Horwitz's Three-Run Double Lifts Pirates Over Brewers 4-3

MILWAUKEE — Spencer Horwitz hit a three-run double and the Pittsburgh Pirates extended their dominance over Milwaukee this season, beating the Brewers 4-3 on Monday night in the opener of a four-game series.

Pittsburgh has won six of seven games against the NL Central-leading Brewers this season.

The Pirates jumped on Brewers starter Brandon Sproat (3-7) in the third inning. Brandon Lowe and Bryan Reynolds singled and Esmerlyn Valdez walked before Horwitz followed with a bases-clearing double that staked Pittsburgh to a 3-0 lead.

The Pirates added a run in the fourth. Endy Rodriguez led off with a single and moved to third on consecutive wild pitches by Sproat, who was replaced by Garrett Stallings with Jacob Gonzalez still at bat. Stallings eventually struck out Gonzalez before walking Henry Davis and giving up a soft bunt single to Jake Mangum that scored Rodriguez.

Pirates starter Bubba Chandler (4-8) held the Brewers without a hit until David Hamilton's single up the middle with two outs in the fifth. Joey Ortiz followed with another base hit that drove in Jake Bauers, who had walked leading off the inning.

Milwaukee cut the lead to 4-3 in the sixth, with one run scoring on Andrew Vaughn's single and another on a throwing error, after which Chandler was lifted. Chandler allowed four hits and three runs, two earned, in 5 2/3 innings, walking four and striking out five.

Sproat gave up five hits and four runs in three innings. He struck out four, walked two and threw three wild pitches.

Mason Montgomery pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save in five tries.

Before the game, the Pirates placed right-handed pitcher Mitch Keller on the 60-day injured list and recalled left-handed pitcher Brandon Eisesrt from Triple-A Indianapolis. The Brewers designated right-hander Carlos Rodriguez for assignment.

Pirates right-hander Jared Jones (2-2, 3.81 ERA) will face Brewers right-hander Logan Henderson (5-1, 2.66) on Tuesday.