Brubaker, Bucs open doubleheader with 7-0 win over Rockies

<p>PITTSBURGH &mdash; JT Brubaker tossed six shutout innings to help the Pittsburgh Pirates win the first game of a seven-inning doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies 7-0 on Saturday.</p>
<p>Brubaker (4-4) allowed only two hits until the sixth inning, when Raimel Tapia had a leadoff single and C.J. Cron was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Charlie Blackmon and Brendan Rodgers flew out to end the inning.</p>
<p>The right-hander gave up four hits with five strikeouts before being relieved by Chasen Shreve in the seventh. Brubaker recovered from his previous two starts, when he allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on May 18 and surrendered seven in 5 1/3 to the Atlanta Braves five days later.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh snapped a six-game skid by handing Colorado a fourth straight loss.</p>
<p>Bryan Reynolds hit his team-leading sixth homer, a two-run shot to right that pushed the lead to 5-0 in the fifth, and Gregory Polanco scored on a fielder’s choice, making it 6-0 later that inning. Polanco had a sacrifice fly an inning later.</p>
<p>Jon Gray (4-5) had his shortest outing in 11 starts for the Rockies this season, giving up three runs on four hits in three innings.</p>
<p>Michael Perez got the Pirates going in a three-run second inning, driving in Wilmer Difo with a single back up the middle for a 1-0 lead. Brubaker walked, loading the bases with no outs.</p>
<p>Adam Frazier hit a potential double-play ball to first, but Cron’s throw pulled Rodgers off of second. Rodgers dove back to tag the base for one out, and Cole Tucker went home for a second run before Ben Gamel made it 3-0 with a sacrifice to left.</p>
<p>Right-hander Mitch Keller (2-6, 7.41 ERA) will take the mound for the Pirates against Rockies lefty Austin Gomber (3-4, 4.56) in the second game of the twin bill later Saturday.</p>
<p>The doubleheader is the fifth for the Rockies this season and fourth in the past 26 games. They are coming off a double feature Thursday, losing each game against the Mets in New York.</p>
<p>Pittsburgh split its only previous doubleheader this season, beating the Tigers in the first game before dropping the second in Detroit on April 21.</p>
<p>TRAINER’S ROOM</p>
<p>Rockies: Trevor Story was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to May 28 with right elbow inflammation, stemming from a play in the second game of the doubleheader against the Mets on Thursday. The two-time All-Star shortstop left in the third inning after collecting a groundball from Cameron Maybin and making a spinning throw for the out at first.</p>
<p>Pirates: OF Ka’ai Tom (wrist) was reinstated from the injured list and served as the 27th man on the roster for the doubleheader.</p>
<p>UP NEXT</p>
<p>Following the doubleheader Saturday, Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (0-0, 2.25) is expected to close out the three-game set on Sunday against a pitcher yet to be announced by the Pirates. In his lone appearance this season, Freeland allowed one run on four hits in a 3-1 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday.</p>
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