Despite 2 homers from Bryan Reynolds, Pirates routed again, swept by Brewers

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Aug 13, 2025

Published in Baseball

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Despite a two-homer day from designated hitter Bryan Reynolds, the Pittsburgh Pirates couldn’t prevent the Milwaukee Brewers from earning their 12th consecutive win.

The Brewers beat the Pirates 12-5 on Wednesday afternoon at American Family Field in Milwaukee, completing a three-game sweep. Lefty Jared Koenig, who pitched the seventh, earned the win and improved to 5-1. Pirates starter Mitch Keller took the loss and dropped to 5-11. It’s Keller’s first loss since June 21.

Keller cruised through the first two innings but allowed two runs in the third and four more in the fourth. In all, he completed four innings and allowed six earned runs on eight hits and a walk. He struck out five.

The Pirates had four hits and drew two walks in four innings against Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff but couldn’t bring a run in. Milwaukee shortstop Joey Ortiz made a stellar play to save a run in the first, fielding a deflection off of Woodruff and throwing to first in time to get second baseman Nick Gonzales.

The Pirates did show some fight, as Reynolds took a pair of his former teammates deep. Trailing 6-0, Reynolds hit a three-run homer off of reliever Shelby Miller in the fifth, then a two-run shot against Nick Mears in the sixth to bring the score to 6-5. Reynolds completed a 3 for 4 day with a walk and a ninth-inning single.

But the Pirates bullpen continued its weekslong implosion in the sixth and seventh innings. After a clean fifth, long reliever Carmen Mlodzinski allowed a two-run single to William Contreras in the sixth. Right-handers Kyle Nicolas and Cam Sanders combined to allow four runs in the seventh, all charged to Nicolas, on three hits and three walks. Isaac Mattson pitched a 1-2-3 eighth.

It was over when ...

... Contreras’ single rolled down the right-field line, bringing the Pirates’ deficit from one run to three.

On the mound

The Pirates bullpen has allowed 56 runs (53 earned) in 56 2/3 innings since Aug. 1, good for an 8.90 ERA.

Part of that is the starting rotation. A Pirates starter has completed six innings just once in that span.

At the plate

The Pirates had 12 hits, the same number as the Brewers. Besides Reynolds, Gonzales, catcher Joey Bart, left fielder Tommy Pham and right fielder Ronny Simon also had two-hit days. Simon was making his Pirates debut after being claimed from waivers from Miami in May and being brought up from Indianapolis in place of the injured Oneil Cruz on Wednesday morning.

Most valuable player

Contreras went 2 for 3 with two walks and four RBIs.

Up next

The Pirates are off Thursday before beginning a three-game series in Chicago against the Cubs. Starters have not been announced for the series. Friday’s game, which begins at 2:20 p.m. ET.

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