Sports Network | August 29, 2010
Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Ryan Braun went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer and scored three runs, as the Milwaukee Brewers completed a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates with an 8-4 win at Miller Park.
Chris Dickerson chipped in with a two-run single and drove in three for the Brewers, who had dropped four in a row entering the series and finished 13-5 against the Pirates this season.
Dave Bush (7-11) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts over seven innings to pick up the win. Trevor Hoffman retired the final two batters to record his eighth save of the season and up his save totals to an all-time major league-best 599.
"I'd rather not give them up," Bush said about allowing three home runs. "For the most part solo home runs aren't so bad. Today I threw a lot of strikes early in the count."
Neil Walker hit a two-run homer while Ryan Doumit and Delwyn Young added solo shots for Pittsburgh, which has dropped nine of their last 12.
Charlie Morton (1-10), making his first start since May 27th, lasted only 3 1/3 innings in his return from the minors. The right-hander was raked for eight runs -- seven earned -- on nine hits, walked one and struck out two.
"It was bad. It was frustrating," Morton said about his outing. "I just have to shake it off and get back out there. The first game back I obviously wanted to do better than I did today."
Walker's two-run homer just inside the right-field foul pole in the first gave the Pirates a brief early lead.
However, Milwaukee answered with three in the home portion. Consecutive singles and a walk loaded the bases with two outs before Dickerson chased in a pair with a single to right. With runners still on the corners, Morton's errant pickoff throw to first allowed another to score that put the Brewers up, 3-2.
In the Milwaukee third with runners on first and third and one out, Dickerson's groundout brought in a run, andAlcides Escobar and George Kottaras each added an RBI single to give the hosts a 6-2 edge.
Doumit got the Bucs a run closer with homer to right leading off the fourth, but Braun clubbed a two-run shot in the home half to make it 8-3.
Young's homer in the seventh made it an 8-4 game, accounting for the final margin.
Bush improved to 6-5 in 16 career games against the Pirates, while Morton fell to 0-4 in four all-time meetings against Milwaukee...Kottaras finished 3-for-4 with an RBI for the Brewers...Pirates reliever Evan Meek was hit by a line drive in his right wright in the eighth and had to leave the game. X-rays were negative and the right-hander is listed as day-to-day.