Pirates suffer two-hit shutout vs. Brewers, strike out a season-high 18 times

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 26, 2026

Published in Baseball

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MILWAUKEE — Carmen Mlodzinski started with three hitless innings. He couldn’t complete the fourth.

The Milwaukee Brewers scored five runs against Mlodzinski in the fourth inning, then cruised to a 5-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at American Family Field. The Pittsburgh Pirates won the series, their third-consecutive series win against a division opponent to start the season, but couldn’t complete their first sweep of the Brewers in Milwaukee since 2016. It’s the Pirates’ third shutout loss of the year.

Brewers lefty Kyle Harrison was dominant over six shutout innings. He allowed one hit and one walk and struck out a career-high 12 batters, including the side in both his first and final innings. He left to a standing ovation.

Mlodzinski threw 39 pitches in the inning, only recording two outs. He allowed five hits. Four of the runs (and three of the hits) came with two outs, after Joey Bart’s catcher’s interference turned a 1-2 count against Sal Frelick into a two-baserunner jam.

The inning, which started with a 10-pitch William Contreras single and Jake Bauers’ ground-rule double, only unraveled from there. Luis Rengifo singled, bringing in the second run. A David Hamilton double scored one more. With runners on second and third, Brandon Lockridge’s single brought in Rengifo and Hamilton and ended Mlodzinski’s day.

The Pirates’ bullpen performed well after Mlodzinski, spinning 4 1/3 scoreless innings. Evan Sisk completed 1 1/3 innings, allowing a double but striking out two, and Cam Sanders threw two scoreless frames with a strikeout. Justin Lawrence completed a 1-2-3 eighth, aided by a smooth defensive play from Nick Gonzales, for his fifth consecutive scoreless outing.

The Pirates managed just two hits all game, striking out a season-high 18 times. Two walks and an error on a Bart fielder’s choice loaded the bases in the eighth, but Bryan Reynolds grounded out to end it.

It was over when …

Lockridge’s single extended the lead to five. Cutting the deficit never seemed likely on a day Harrison was throwing so well.

On the mound

Mlodzinski’s line — five hits, five runs, four earned, one walk, four strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings — is somewhat tough to evaluate, given the “what if?” of Bart’s error.

However, he’s completed five innings twice and six innings once in his six appearances. With Jared Jones scheduled to begin his rehab on Wednesday, there’s pressure on Mlodzinski to perform if he hopes to remain in the rotation.

At the plate

A Pirates lineup without Brandon Lowe and Oneil Cruz — both out of the lineup against the lefty — had no answers for Harrison.

Every Pirate struck out at least once. Jake Mangum struck out three times, six others — all except Reynolds and Ryan O’Hearn — struck out twice.

Most valuable player

Harrison, acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the Caleb Durbin trade, looks like someone the Pirates will see plenty over the coming years.

Up next

The Pirates return home for a four-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals starting at 6:40 p.m. ET Monday. The Pirates have not yet announced their starter, while the Cardinals will start right-hander Dustin May (3-2, 5.84 ERA).

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