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 Harrison's single with one out in the 11th inning gave Pittsburgh a
7-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday, enabling the
Pirates to keep pace in the National League Central race.
It the fifth game-ending hit of Harrison's five-year career and the
Pirates' 10th walk-off win of the season.
"You definitely love to be in those situations, though more often
than not you'd rather take care of business earlier," Harrison said
with a smile. "It's been a lot of us in that situation this year
coming through, though. That's what makes it so good."
With the scored tied at 6, pinch hitter Travis Ishikawa started the
winning rally with a single off reliever Tyler Thornburg (0-1), and
he continued to second on a bobble by left field Khris Davis. Pinch
runner Pedro Florimon moved to third on shortstop Jordy Mercer's
groundout before right fielder Sean Rodriguez was hit by a pitch.
Harrison, filling for left fielder Starling Marte (stomach flu),
followed by lining a single to left field to score Florimon.
The Pirates (86-56) remained 2 1/2 games behind the St. Louis
Cardinals, who won 9-2 at Cincinnati, in the division race and
pushed their lead to four games over the Chicago Cubs, who lost 7-4
at Philadelphia, for the first NL wild card.
The Cubs and Pirates open a four-game series at PNC Park on Tuesday
with a day-night doubleheader.
"We'll enjoy this win tonight then take (Monday) off, regroup,
relax, watch some football then get ready for two on Tuesday,"
Harrison said.
Harrison, center fielder Andrew McCutchen and rookie third baseman
Jung Ho Kang had two hits apiece for the Pirates, and first baseman
Pedro Alvarez hit his team-leading 23rd home run. Harrison went
8-for-19 as Pittsburgh took three of four in the series.
"Josh, he does a lot of things to help us win games," Pittsburgh
manager Clint Hurdle said. "He brings energy, edge and attitude."
Jared Hughes (3-1) got second baseman Scooter Gennett to hit into an
inning-ending double play in the top of the 11th after the Brewers
put runners on first and third.
"You could make a case that we should have played the infield in,
especially with a fast runner up to bat," said second baseman Neil
Walker, the pivot man on the double play. "But that shows the faith
(Hurdle) has in Jared and our defense, and we were able to get out
of it."
Davis hit a two-run home run, his 20th, for the Brewers (62-81).
Rookie first baseman Jason Rogers had a career-high four hits, while
shortstop Jean Segura had three hits and second baseman Elian
Herrera added two.
The Pirates rallied from a five-run deficit to tie the score at 6-6
with three runs in the fourth inning and two in the seventh.
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Consecutive RBI singles by McCutchen and Kang off reliever Jeremy
Jeffress tied it after right fielder Travis Snider hit a two-run
double in the fourth and Mercer followed with a sacrifice fly.
"It was a good game," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. "Jumped
off to an early start and they battled back. There were some big
moments on both sides, and we had a chance in the 11th there. Just
couldn't get the run across."
Brewers rookie right-hander Taylor Jungmann was in line to beat the
Pirates for the fourth time in as many career starts before the
bullpen failed to hold a 6-4 lead. He gave up four runs and four
hits in six innings with seven strikeouts and three walks.
Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano was rocked for five runs (four
earned) and seven hits in 2 1/3 innings but was taken off the hook
for the loss. He struck out four and walked two.
The Brewers scored twice off Liriano in the first inning. Rogers
drove in a run with an infield single, and the other scored on
Liriano's throwing error.
Alvarez homered in the second to slice the lead to 2-1.
Davis connected for his homer in the third, and an RBI double later
in the inning finished Liriano.
Milwaukee made it 6-1 in the fourth when Segura hit a leadoff double
and scored on third baseman Hernan Perez's single.
NOTES: The start of the game was delayed 21 minutes by rain. ...
Brewers 1B Adam Lind was not in the lineup against Pirates LHP
Francisco Liriano as rookie 1B Jason Rogers started. The
left-handed-hitting Lind sat out for the fifth time in the past
eight games in which Milwaukee faced a lefty starter ... Both teams
are off Monday. ... The Brewers open a three-game home series with
the Cardinals on Tuesday night.
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