Pirates lose again, fall to last place in NL Central

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Aug 6, 2026

Published in Baseball

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MILWAUKEE — When the Pirates left for Cincinnati to start an eight-game road trip, they did so with hope. Hope for a strong trade deadline. Hope for some injury returns. Hope to improve their position in a playoff hunt.

As they leave Milwaukee, they are losers of six of eight, the finale a 5-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Thursday afternoon. In that finale, the Brewers were better in all facets of the game: hitting, pitching, defense and baserunning.

The loss dropped the Pirates three games under .500, their lowest point this season. They’re in last place in the National League Central.

The Pirates continued their recent offensive slump, finishing with two runs for the fourth time in the last five games.

Brandon Lowe hit a solo homer in the fourth, part of a frame where the Pirates had three of their five hits. Spencer Horwitz added an RBI single. But Endy Rodriguez was thrown out trying to advance to third on the play, one of three outs the Pirates recorded on the bases Thursday.

Braxton Ashcraft allowed four runs on four hits and a walk in five innings. He struck out five. He allowed two solo homers, a shot by Jackson Chourio on the Brewers’ second at-bat of the game and Gary Sanchez’s no-doubter in the fifth.

Ashcraft wasn’t necessarily the Pirates’ biggest problem, but he also wasn’t sharp. It wasn’t the dominance he showed in his All-Star first half.

The bigger issue was the offense. Brewers starter Dustin May, making his Milwaukee debut, faced little difficulty apart from the fourth inning. He walked Jake Mangum to lead off the game, then struck out the side.

Twice, Nick Gonzales was doubled off at first base. In the second inning, he was hit by a pitch then thrown out when Ronny Simon’s liner was caught by a leaping Brice Turang. Then he singled to lead off the seventh, but was picked again when he journeyed too far off first base on Jared Triolo’s flyout.

It was over when …

Rodriguez challenged a called third strike in the ninth inning that was down the middle of the plate.

On the mound

Gregory Soto allowed a run on three hits in relief of Ashcraft in the sixth. Ashcraft had thrown 83 pitches, but wasn’t at his best and had two lefties due up. Soto also racked up three strikeouts.

Camilo Doval and Kirby Yates both threw scoreless innings. Doval walked a batter, but Henry Davis easily caught Chourio attempting to steal second.

At the plate

Gonzales reached base in three of four plate appearances, going 2 for 3 with the single and the hit by pitch.

The Pirates brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Simon grounded into a game-ending double play.

Bucs bites

— Right-hander Ron Marinaccio, who the Pirates designated for assignment on Monday, was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds.

— Right-hander Dennis Santana signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Santana had a 6.05 ERA in 44 appearances for the Pirates this season.

Up next

The Pirates return home to face the new-look New York Mets starting on Friday at 6:40 p.m. The Pirates have not yet announced their starter, while the Mets will start lefty Zac Thornton (2-2, 2.88 ERA).