Aaron Civale and Joey Ortiz Propel Brewers to Victory Over Pirates

On a cool Thursday, Aaron Civale delivered an immaculate six scoreless innings in his final appearance before the playoffs, while rookie Joey Ortiz was just a home run away from hitting for the cycle. This dynamic duo led the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-2 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Civale, finishing his regular season with an 8-9 record, allowed merely three hits, induced five strikeouts, and granted one walk. His performance in his last nine starts has been commendable, boasting a 2.57 ERA with a 6-1 win-loss ratio.

Aaron Civale’s Pitching Prowess

Brewers’ skipper Pat Murphy lauded Civale’s performance saying, “In the current era, witnessing such a pitcher with impeccable control is truly impressive.”

Ortiz had an exceptional game as well. The young third baseman tripled in the third inning, scoring on Brice Turang’s groundout for the first run. He also hit a crucial double in the sixth to extend the Brewers’ advantage to 5-0.

Postseason Prospects for the Brewers

The Brewers, the reigning National League Central champions, are set to commence a best-of-three NL Wild Card Series at home next Tuesday. They wrap up the regular season by hosting the New York Mets, a contending team, in a three-game series starting Friday night.

While Murphy didn’t confirm whether Civale would start in the wild-card round, he didn’t rule out the possibility. “With his experience and his ability to navigate through any lineup, Civale could certainly make a strong case,” Murphy noted.

Successful Season for the Brewers

Embracing the excitement of playoff baseball, Civale expressed his joy, “Being with the Brewers has been an amazing journey. I’m just fortunate and enjoying the ride, taking it one start at a time.”

The Brewers celebrated their fifth victory in their last seven games and achieved an impressive 46-35 road record this season. With two hits each from Blake Perkins and Gary Sanchez, and Turang’s two RBI, the Brewers demonstrated a solid team effort.

Less Fortunate Pirates

On the Pirates’ side, Mitch Keller (11-12) struggled in his final appearance this year, surrendering three runs and six hits in five innings. The Pirates have had a rough patch lately, losing nine of their last 13 games, and ended with a home record of 39-42.

However, the Pirates can take solace from their increased season attendance of 1,720,321, their highest since 2017, largely due to the breakout of rookie pitcher Paul Skenes.

Looking Ahead

As they move forward, the Brewers hope to continue their winning form. Friday night will see RHP Frankie Montas on the mound for Milwaukee, while the Mets’ starter remains undecided.

Meanwhile, the Pirates will send out RHP Jared Jones to kick off a three-game series in New York against Yankees’ LHP Carlos Rodon. As the regular season ends, both teams look forward to the excitement and challenges of the postseason.