PITTSBURGH – It isn’t often a team is going to win a major-league game after going 3 for 20 with runners in scoring position.

Yet that’s exactly what the Milwaukee Brewers did on Friday night, Sept. 5, riding a clutch two-run single by Jake Bauers and a strong seven-inning start by Quinn Priester to a 5-2 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

Playing their third straight game without Christian Yelich, the Brewers were 1 for 10 with runners in scoring position when Bauers battled back from an 0-2 count to line the decisive hit to right-center. A two-out single from Brice Turang in the eighth added an insurance run, then some bad Pirates defense in the ninth provided more breathing room.

BOX SCORE: Brewers 5, Pirates 2

Priester (12-2), meanwhile, rallied from a shaky opening few innings to retire the final 11 batters he faced en route to setting a franchise record with his 11th consecutive winning decision.

He became the first Milwaukee pitcher to complete seven innings since Brandon Woodruff on Aug. 8.

The Brewers improved to 87-55 to maintain their grasp on baseball’s best record and their 5 1/2-game lead in the NL Central standings with 20 games remaining in the regular season.

There was also some news before the game, as the Brewers placed right-hander Nick Mears on the 15-day injured list with back tightness. Mears joins Trevor Megill, Shelby Miller, Grant Anderson and DL Hall as relievers currently on the IL for the team.

Right-hander Carlos Rodriguez was recalled from Class AAA Nashville to take Mears’s spot in the bullpen.

Quinn Priester wraps up a solid night

After his shaky first three innings and initial two batters in the fourth, Priester calmed down and settled in nicely by retiring 11 straight to end his night.

He scattered six hits, two runs and walked one with six strikeouts in a 96-pitch outing.

A leadoff single by Bauers in the eighth was later followed by a two-out single to left by Turang that drove in Bauers to up Milwaukee’s lead to 4-2.

Three hits and two Pittsburgh errors in the ninth accounted for the Brewers’ final run, and Abner Uribe induced three straight ground-ball outs in the ninth for his fifth save.

Jake Bauers delivers that elusive clutch hit

Pirates starting pitcher Johan Oviedo made way for Carmen Mlodzinski to start the sixth, which was definitely good news for the Brewers.

William Contreras and Sal Frelick singled with one out and had advanced to second and third with two outs to bring Bauers to the plate.

Behind in the count, 0-2, Bauers delivered a two-run single to right-center to put Milwaukee back in front at 3-2.

Caleb Durbin also singled and Joey Ortiz walked to load the bases, but a nice play up the middle by shortstop Nick Gonzales on a grounder by Turang kept the Brewers from tacking on further and left them 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

Pirates grab the lead

After Bryan Reynolds traded places with Spencer Horwitz at first base in the third, Tommy Pham lined a double to left that drove him in to leave Milwaukee trailing, 2-1.

Again, Priester limited the damage to the lone run, but his pitch count stood at 55 at the conclusion of the frame.

The Brewers threatened in the fifth when Durbin drew a leadoff walk, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. But Turang’s fly ball to left field was too shallow for Durbin to tag and score and Isaac Collins followed by flying out as well.

An early lead, and missed opportunity

Turang singled and Collins walked to begin against Oviedo, who struck out Jackson Chourio and then got a grounder to third off the bat of Contreras.

Jared Triolo booted it and Turang scored, with Collins being held at third. Frelick fouled out and Vaughn struck out on three pitches, spoiling a chance for Milwaukee to jump out to a bigger lead.

Priester extricated himself from a two-on, one-out jam in the bottom of the frame with a groundout and a nice leaping grab by Vaughn at first base but wasn’t so lucky in the second.

Gonzales doubled to lead off and Oneil Cruz singled him in a batter later to tie it at 1-1, but Priester recovered from there to retire the next three batters and limit the damage to a run.

What time is the Brewers game tonight?

Time: 5:40 p.m. CT.

What channel is the Brewers game on today?

TV channel: Apple TV+.

Brewers record 2025

87-55 (best in the major leagues, 5 1/2-game lead in the National League Central Division).

Brewers lineupBrice Turang 2BIsaac Collins LFJackson Chourio CFWilliam Contreras CSal Frelick RFAndrew Vaughn 1BJake Bauers DHCaleb Durbin 3BJoey Ortiz SSPirates lineupJared Triolo 3BSpencer Horwitz 1BBryan Reynolds RFTommy Pham LFAndrew McCutchen DHNick Gonzales SSOneil Cruz CFJoey Bart CNick Yorke 2BBrewers schedule

Brewers at Pirates, Sept. 6, 5:40 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Brandon Woodruff (5-2, 3.69) vs. Pittsburgh RHP Mitch Keller (6-13, 4.21) TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin, Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.

Brewers at Pirates, Sept. 7, 12:35 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Jacob Misiorowski (4-2, 4.50) vs. Pittsburgh TBA. TV – FanDuel Sports Wisconsin, Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.