McCutchen sinks former team, Brewers beat Pirates

PITTSBURGH — So much for Andrew McCutchen taking it easy on his former team.

The former Pirates star entered Thursday’s game hitting just .136 in 17 career games against them, including an 0-for-5 performance Wednesday and 23 strikeouts in 73 plate appearances (31.5%).

That run ended in a couple key spots during a 3-2 Brewers victory over the Pirates on Thursday afternoon at PNC Park, which completed a three-game sweep.

In addition to homering on the first pitch of the game, McCutchen drove a two-run single over Josh VanMeter’s head with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning to push Milwaukee in front for good.

McCutchen finished the game with three hits and three RBIs while the Pirates lost for the sixth consecutive time to Milwaukee this season. Pittsburgh is 6-23 against the Brewers since sweeping a three-game series in Pittsburgh Aug. 21-23, 2020.

The go-ahead runs came off Chris Stratton, who relieved David Bednar to start the ninth and loaded the bases by allowing three consecutive singles. McCutchen went down and got a curveball from Stratton and shot it the other way.