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  Tuesday, Jul. 25 7:05pm ET
Hernandez keys win with two-run single
 
  RECAP | BOX SCORE | GAME LOG

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Milwaukee Brewers manager Davey Lopes wasn't surprised to see Jose Hernandez come through with the bases loaded Tuesday night. He was more surprised to see three runners on base.

"That hasn't happened too much for us this year," Lopes said after Hernandez drove in two runs with a single in the 11th inning of Milwaukee's 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Jose Hernandez
Hernandez

The Brewers, who had lost four straight, came into the game with a .188 average over their last five games. They had chances against Pirates starter Kris Benson but hit into three double plays in the first six innings.

"We had situations where we had the hitters we wanted up at the plate," Lopes said. "We just couldn't get the big hit."

Hernandez did, and is now 7-for-13 with the bases loaded this season. His hit came off Jason Christiansen (2-8), who got one out before allowing a double to Geoff Jenkins.

Charlie Hayes was intentionally walked and Jeromy Burnitz drew another walk to load the bases before Hernandez lined a single to right. The Brewers added a run when Tyler Houston executed a squeeze bunt.

Pirates manager Gene Lamont thought the inning fell apart when Christiansen couldn't handle the two left-handed batters, Jenkins and Burnitz.

"Jason usually chews up left-handers," Lamont said.

Curtis Leskanic (1-2) pitched a perfect 10th for the win and Bob Wickman finished for his 15th save.

The game started as a pitchers' duel between Jeff D'Amico of the Brewers and Benson. Each allowed a solo home run in nine innings.

"Two guys just pitched their tails off," Lopes said.

D'Amico gave up five hits, walked one, hit a batter and struck out three. In five July starts, he is 4-0 with a 0.45 ERA.

Benson, who lost his first two starts after the All-Star break, allowed seven hits, walked one and struck out nine.

Houston, who was 0-for-10 against Benson, drove a 3-1 pitch over the left-field wall in the second for his 11th home run.

Pat Meares returned to the Pirates after missing three games and led off the third with his seventh homer of the season, ending D'Amico's scoreless innings streak at 20 2/3.

"I was behind in the count (2-1), I tried to run a fastball in and he got it," D'Amico said.

Benson gave up six hits and a walk over the first six innings. He allowed a leadoff double to Raul Casanova in the eighth, but stranded him there by getting three straight outs.

Game notes
Meares was away for the weekend while his wife gave birth to their second child and first son, Paxton James. ... Pirates 1B Kevin Young also returned after missing the weekend series against Philadelphia because of a family medical emergency at home in Arizona. He went 1-for-5.
 


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