Sat Jul 5 21:47:09 2008

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Fielder's late hit pushes Brewers past Bucs

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Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Prince Fielder's RBI single in the bottom of the ninth lifted the Milwaukee Brewers to a 2-1 win over Pittsburgh in the second of three games with the Pirates.

Tyler Yates took the mound for Pittsburgh going into the home ninth, and gave up a walk to Rickie Weeks to lead off. J.J. Hardy then popped up a bunt, but it fell in front of the mound to advance Weeks to second.

After Yates intentionally walked Ryan Braun, Fielder laced a single to shallow left-center field to plate Weeks and end the game.

Yates (3-2) took the loss for Pittsburgh, while Eric Gagne (2-2) got the win for tossing a scoreless top of the ninth. The final inning decided a game in which each starting pitcher was brilliant.

For Milwaukee, Dave Bush allowed one run on four hits in eight innings, while striking out seven and walking none. Meanwhile, for the Pirates, Paul Maholm also surrendered one run on four hits, struck out six and walked one through eight innings of work. Neither, though, got a decision.

Mike Cameron hit a solo homer, while Fielder finished with two hits for Milwaukee, which has won the first two games of this series and four of five overall. Hardy went 0-for-3, snapping his 16-game hitting streak.

Jose Bautista doubled and drove in the only run for Pittsburgh, which has lost four of six.

Cameron got Milwaukee on the scoreboard in the second, when he drove a two-out pitch over the fence in right-center field for a 1-0 Brewers lead.

But the Pirates were able to plate the equalizer in the fifth. Adam LaRoche and Bautista led off the frame with consecutive doubles to center, pushing one run across. Bautista went to third on his double, on a Weeks throwing error, but was stranded there at the Pirates left the game tied, 1-1.

Game Notes

It was the fourth time this season Maholm has thrown eight or more innings, and just the second time for Bush...On Saturday the Pirates optioned pitcher Tom Gorzelanny to Triple-A Indianapolis. The lefty has a 6-7 record and 6.57 earned-run average in 17 starts this season...Milwaukee's Jeff Suppan (5-6, 4.30 ERA) and Pittsburgh's Zach Duke (4-5, 3.88) are scheduled to start Sunday's finale.