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Pirates pregame: Steven Brault enjoys playing spoiler vs. Brewers | TribLIVE.com
Pirates/MLB

Pirates pregame: Steven Brault enjoys playing spoiler vs. Brewers

Tribune-Review
Tribune-Review | Tuesday, September 12, 2017 4:01 p.m
PiratesBrewersBaseball16592jpg3c933
Pirates starting pitcher Steven Brault throws during the first inning against the Brewers on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017, in Milwaukee.

MILWAUKEE — Steven Brault’s first big league victory last night came at a lousy time for the Brewers, who slipped to 2 1⁄2 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central.

“Playing spoiler is really fun,” Brault said. “I would rather be playing contender. We’ll see what happens in the years (to come).”

After the game, Brault got what sounded like a odd and very sudsy celebratory shower from his teammates.

“Soaps and stuff like that,” he said. “So, that was fun. Very cold.”

Brault said he planned to mark the occasion with a low-key gathering.

“I’ll talk to my family and everything,” he said. “I have some friends here in town, so I’ll go have some food with them and kind of be happy about it.”

CUTCH GOES DEEP

In the first inning last night, Andrew McCutchen smacked his 24th homer — No. 199 in his career — and matched his total from last season.

McCutchen had gone 108 at-bats since Aug. 8 without going deep. Will that opposite-field, two-run shot be the thing that helps McCutchen find his pop?

“I did something right,” McCutchen said. “So … it’s a good start. I guess I did find it.”

In seven games this season at Miller Park, McCutchen has hit .348 (8 for 23) with three home runs, nine RBI, seven walks, a .500 OBP and a 1.239 OPS. He has reached base safely in 15 straight games in Milwaukee, going 22 for 58 (.379) with five homers, 16 RBI and a 1.152 OPS.

TODAY’S GAME

Pirates at Brewers, 7:40 p.m. ET at Miller Park, Milwaukee. TV: AT&T SportsNet. Radio: 93.7 FM, 1450 AM, 1480 AM

PIRATES (68-77): Jordy Mercer 6, Jordan Luplow 7, Andrew McCutchen 8, David Freese 5, Jose Osuna 3, Gregory Polanco 9, Sean Rodriguez 4, Chris Stewart 2, RHP Gerrit Cole (11-9, 3.93)

BREWERS (75-69): Eric Sogard 6, Neil Walker 4, Ryan Braun 7, Travis Shaw 5, Domingo Santana 9, Eric Thames 3, Stephen Vogt 2, Keon Broxton 8, RHP Brent Suter (2-2, 3.55).

LOOKING AHEAD

>> WEDNESDAY, 8:10 p.m. ET at Miller Park, Milwaukee: Pirates RHP Tyler Glasnow (2-6, 7.45) vs. Brewers TBA

>> THURSDAY: Off

>> FRIDAY, 7:10 p.m. ET at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati: Pirates TBA vs. Reds RHP Homer Bailey (4-8, 7.26)

>> SATURDAY, 4:10 p.m. ET at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati: Pirates TBA vs. Reds TBA vs. RHP Sal Romano (4-6, 4.54)

>> SUNDAY, 1:10 p.m. ET at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati: Pirates TBA vs. Reds BA vs. RHP Robert Stephenson

Rob Biertempfel is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at rbiertempfel@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BiertempfelTrib.

Categories: Pirates
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