Brubaker, Bucs open doubleheader with 7-0 win over Rockies

PITTSBURGH (AP) — JT Brubaker tossed six shutout innings to help the Pittsburgh Pirates win the first game of a seven-inning doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies 7-0 on Saturday.

Brubaker (4-4) allowed only two hits until the sixth inning, when Raimel Tapia had a leadoff single and C.J. Cron was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Charlie Blackmon and Brendan Rodgers flew out to end the inning.

The right-hander gave up four hits with five strikeouts before being relieved by Chasen Shreve in the seventh. Brubaker recovered from his previous two starts, when he allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 18 and surrendered seven in 5 1/3 to the Atlanta Braves five days later.

Pittsburgh snapped a six-game skid by handing Colorado a fourth straight loss.

Bryan Reynolds hit his team-leading sixth homer, a two-run shot to right that pushed the lead to 5-0 in the fifth, and Gregory Polanco scored on a fielder’s choice, making it 6-0 later that inning. Polanco had a sacrifice fly an inning later.

Jon Gray (4-5) had his shortest outing in 11 starts for the Rockies this season, giving up three runs on four hits in three innings.

Michael Perez got the Pirates going in a three-run second inning, driving in Wilmer Difo with a single back up the middle for a 1-0 lead. Brubaker walked, loading the bases with no outs.

Adam Frazier hit a potential double-play ball to first, but Cron’s throw pulled Rodgers off of second. Rodgers dove back to tag the base for one out, and Cole Tucker went home for a second run before Ben Gamel made it 3-0 with a sacrifice to left.

Right-hander Mitch Keller (2-6, 7.41 ERA) will take the mound for the Pirates against Rockies lefty Austin Gomber (3-4, 4.56) in the second game of the twin bill later Saturday.

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source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Brubaker-Bucs-open-doubleheader-with-7-0-win-16212552.php