Pirates’ Williams, 2 relievers 2-hit Brewers in win

Trevor Williams has been pitching in the majors for less than two full seasons. Still, he’s come to understand the ups and downs that come with the sport.

“Baseball kicks your (behind),” Williams said. “The highs are so high, and the lows are so low. You have to stay even-keeled.”

Williams bounced back from recent struggles by pitching one-hit ball over seven innings and two Pittsburgh Pirates relievers closed out a two-hitter in a 1-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.

Williams (6-4) struck out seven and walked two for his first victory in a month and after he had allowed a combined 12 runs in six innings in his previous two starts. Jordy Mercer drove in the lone run with a seventh-inning double, and the Pirates won for the fourth time in five games.

The Brewers entered the day leading the NL Central but suffered their third straight loss.

The only hit off Williams was a single by Jonathan Villar with two outs in the fourth. The hit followed a walk to Hernan Perez, and the duo executed a double steal before Erik Kratz struck out to end the inning.

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle thought fastball command made the difference for Williams.

“Up, down, in, out. It was just an outstanding performance,” Hurdle said.

Williams had gone 0-2 in five starts since beating the Chicago White Sox on May 15.

“He hit his spots,” Milwaukee right fielder Christian Yelich said. “He was throwing everything for strikes. When a guy is doing that and he’s not really missing over the plate much, it’s a tough night.”

Kyle Crick pitched a perfect eighth inning for Pittsburgh. Yelich singled off closer Felipe Vazquez to open the ninth, ending a string of 13 straight Brewers retired. Vazquez retired the next three hitters for his 14th save in 18 opportunities.

Francisco Cervelli drew a one-out walk in the Pirates’ seventh and advanced to third on Josh Bell’s single. Josh Hader relieved Jhoulys Chacin and struck out Gregory Polanco, but Mercer followed by doubling down the left-field line to score Cervelli.