PITTSBURGH.— Rowdy Tellez homered for the fifth time in five games and drove in five runs, Corbin Burnes took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers routed the Pittsburgh Pirates 19-2 Friday night.
Willy Adames hit a grand slam as the Brewers connected five times. They also had five doubles among their 16 hits.
The Brewers got seven runs in the second inning and eight more in eighth — it was the first time in franchise history they had scored at least seven runs twice in an inning in the same game.
The NL Central-leading Brewers won for the fifth time in six games and are 7-1 against the Pirates this season. The Pirates have lost six of eight.
Tellez’s homer was a three-run shot to right-center field that capped a seven-run second inning against rookie Roansy Contreras (2-2). Tellez also had a two-run double in the fourth to push the Brewers’ lead to 9-0.
“He hits the ball hard and when he does square the ball up it has a chance of going out of the ballpark and that’s what he’s been doing,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell.
Adames’ fourth career slam came against rookie Cam Vieaux and highlighted an eight-run eighth.
The Brewers lost 8-7 on Thursday night in the series opener but scored three runs in the ninth inning. Both Adames and left fielder Andrew McCutchen felt the late rally had a carryover effect.
“It was a tough loss, but it was all good,” McCutchen said. “I felt we were going to come out and have a good game and we did. It was a great dub, a great win. Baseball’s fun when that happens. It was a great day, a great game.”
Burnes’ no-hit bid was broken up on a double to deep center field by rookie Bligh Madris with one out in the sixth.
The reigning NL Cy Young winner was lifted after the sixth inning as his control was shaky. Though Burnes (7-4) allowed only one run on one hit, he walked four, hit a batter and threw a wild pitch while striking out five.
Burnes has a 2.03 ERA while winning his last four starts and is 6-0 lifetime against the Pirates.
“It’s always nice to get some runs but, overall, I’ve got to do a better job than that,” Burnes said. “Walking four hitters is unacceptable but we’ll get back to it. To not have that kind of command is frustrating but we’ll do better next time.”
Tellez hit one of three home runs by the Brewers in the second.
After Kolten Wong had an RBI double, Luis Urias hit a two-run drive. One out later, Keston Hiura had a solo shot into the left-field bleachers. Tellez capped the inning with a 406-foot shot.
When Tellez hit his two-run double in the fourth, it was his ninth straight hit for extra bases.
McCutchen had his second straight three-hit game for the Brewers.
Victor Caratini added a leadoff home run in the ninth off utility player Josh VanMeter.
Contreras was rocked for seven runs in 1 2/3 innings. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out one.
In his other seven starts this season, Contreras had allowed no more than three runs.
The Pirates finished with three hits and scored their runs on a wild pitch and a grounder
Vieaux’s 56 pitches in the eighth was the most pitches thrown by a Pirates pitcher in an inning since such records started being kept in 1988.
“It was one of those situations where we trying to save our bullpen,” Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Brewers: RHP Adrian Houser was placed on the 15-day injured list with a flexor strain in his right elbow and RHP Trevor Kelley was recalled from Triple-A Nashville. Houser left Thursday’s loss to the Pirates in the third inning when he felt tightness in the elbow, but the team is hopeful he can resume throwing within two weeks. Houser had Tommy John surgery in 2016 and missed two full seasons. … CF Jonathan Davis (back/ribs) returned to the lineup two days after being shaken up while making a diving catch in a win at Tampa Bay.
UP NEXT
Brewers: LHP Aaron Ashby (1-5, 4.25) is expected to be activated from the IL to start Saturday. He has been sidelined since June 17 with left forearm inflammation.
Pirates: RHP Bryse Wilson (0-4, 8.29) will be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to make the start. He is 4-0 with a 3.16 ERA in five starts at Indy.
