Henderson wins 6th straight decision as Brewers top Pirates 4-2
Sproat optioned to Triple-A
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MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn homered, Logan Henderson allowed two runs in six innings to win his sixth consecutive decision, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 on Tuesday night.
Henderson (6-1), whose only loss was in early May, allowed four hits, including two solo homers, struck out eight and walked one.
Antonio Senzatela, acquired from the Rockies on Monday, tossed a scoreless seventh with the aid of a double play. Abner Uribe stranded runners on the corners in the eighth and Trevor Megill closed with a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 21 opportunities.
The NL Central-leading Brewers, who earned their major league-high 70th victory, won for just the second time in eight games this season against Pittsburgh.
The Brewers scored two runs in the fourth off Jared Jones (2-3) to go in front 3-1. Vaughn opened the inning with his fifth homer. Cooper Pratt singled with one out and David Hamilton beat out a bunt single. Chourio’s single scored Pratt.
Endy Rodriguez opened the fifth with his sixth homer to pull Pittsburgh within 3-2.
Milwaukee countered in the bottom half on Luis Lara’s RBI single off Wilber Dotel, who relieved to open the inning.
Jacob Gonzalez opened the third with his fifth homer, sending the first pitch 401 feet to right-center to put the Pirates up 1-0.
Chourio answered in the bottom half with his 14th home run, a one-out solo shot to right-center for his first homer since July 4.
Kirby Yates, acquired Monday from the Angels, tossed a scoreless ninth for Pittsburgh.
Pirates manager Don Kelly was ejected in the fifth inning by home plate umpire James Hoye, Kelly’s sixth ejection of the season, most in the majors.
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Kyle Harrison (8-2, 3.01) starts for the Brewers on Wednesday, while Paul Skenes (9-9, 3.90) starts for the Pirates.
Sproat sent to Nashville
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- With the Milwaukee Brewers' trade-deadline acquisition of veteran starter Dustin May, rookie right-hander Brandon Sproat became the odd man out of the rotation.
Sproat, who appeared in 21 games for Milwaukee, including 19 starts, was optioned Tuesday to Triple-A Nashville one day after another inconsistent start.
May, acquired from the Cardinals on Monday along with reliever JoJo Romero, is scheduled to start Thursday for Milwaukee in the series finale against Pittsburgh. Left-hander Kyle Harrison, on the injured list since July 9, also is scheduled to return and start Wednesday.
The 25-year-old Sproat, acquired from the Mets in the offseason trade for Freddy Peralta, is 3-7 with a 5.27 ERA for Milwaukee. He has not won in five starts since his last victory on June 30.
"I think you look at it at face value. It wasn't a foregone conclusion," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said before Tuesday's game. "It's really about what's best for the player and what's best for the team."
Sproat took the loss Monday in a 4-3 defeat in the series opener against the Pirates, allowing four runs on five hits in three-plus innings. He was removed after throwing consecutive wild pitches following a leadoff single in the fourth.
Sproat has struck out 100 in 95 2/3 innings with the Brewers. But he walked 48, hit nine batters and threw nine wild pitches.
"The free bases, the wild pitches, the walks, hit by pitches, has got to stop," Murphy said. "You can't pitch in the big leagues like that."
May was 5-7 with a 4.38 ERA in 21 starts with St. Louis, including 0-1 with a 4.62 ERA in six July starts.
The Brewers also optioned reliever Garrett Stallings to Nashville on Tuesday. In addition to getting Romero, Milwaukee also acquired reliever Antonio Senzatela from Colorado on Monday.