Before they get to enjoy the All-Star break, the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates have some things to settle Sunday, when they play the deciding game of a three-game weekend series at PNC Park.
It comes in the tight National League Central, but there are a couple more layers to it.
Friday, in a game loaded with drama for both clubs, the Brewers blew a five-run lead in the bottom of the ninth before winning 7-6 in the 10th.
Milwaukee is 9-3 against Pittsburgh this season, but a few things could linger going into Sunday’s series finale.
One is the Pirates’ 12-2 pounding of the Brewers on Saturday. The other is the status of shortstop Orlando Arcia, who was driven off the field on a cart in the eighth inning Saturday after colliding with second baseman Keston Hiura.
“They’re still evaluating him,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of Arcia after Saturday’s game. “Probably shoulder pain is the worst of the symptoms right now. All the neurological tests turned out positive, so no major problems there.”
Counsell said Arcia’s collarbone also is part of the focus and that Arcia’s shoulder hit Hiura’s head or jaw. Hiura stayed in the game after remaining on the turf briefly. He added that the Brewers weren’t sure if they will need or can bring in a replacement in time for Sunday’s game.
“Not a good night, and it certainly didn’t end in a good way,” Counsell said. “Hoping Orlando’s OK.”
The Pirates also had a player leave Saturday. Left fielder Corey Dickerson had right groin discomfort after chasing down a fly to shallow left.
“I felt something weird,” Dickerson said. “There was no reason to push it. … I don’t think it’s anything too serious, but I’ll be back in the morning and see how it is.”
So both clubs will be hoping for good injury news and for a series win Sunday.
“We’ve got a whole lot of guys on this crew who love to go out there and play for each other,” said Kevin Newman, who went 4-for-5 with a homer and three RBIs Saturday for Pittsburgh. “Good chance (Sunday) to go off this momentum. Try to come back (Sunday) and win the series.”
In the series finale, Milwaukee right-hander Chase Anderson (4-2, 4.31 ERA) is scheduled to face righty Joe Musgrove (6-7, 4.13). It’s a rematch of a game May 30, also at PNC Park, when Anderson got the better of Musgrove in an 11-5 Brewers win.
Musgrove gave up three home runs, five runs in all, in six innings that game. That left him 0-1 with a 7.13 ERA in three career starts against Milwaukee.
Anderson allowed two runs and struck out five in five innings in their earlier meeting, leaving him 8-4 with a 3.56 ERA in 16 career starts against the Pirates.
Both starters have been going strong recently.
Musgrove has pitched 12 straight scoreless innings and has allowed one run over his past three starts, totaling 16 innings. Tuesday, he looked strong in allowing one hit over three scoreless innings, with four strikeouts, before his night was ended by a long rain delay.
Anderson is 1-0 over his past two starts, giving up four runs (three earned) in 11 innings, with eight strikeouts and one walk. Tuesday, he did not get a decision in Milwaukee’s extra-innings loss at Cincinnati after going 5 2/3 innings, allowing only Eugenio Suarez’s two-run homer on the scoreboard.