Christian Yelich hit a pair of home runs and finished with four RBIs to help the Milwaukee Brewers open a four-game series with an 8-5 win over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night.
Yelich’s three-run blast in the first inning off Pirates rookie starter Mike Burrows (0-1) set the tone for the Brewers’ fourth win in their past five games. Burrows, who made his first career major league start and season debut, allowed four runs on four hits (two home runs) and two walks while striking out three over five innings.
Yelich would deliver his second homer — a 415-foot, solo blast to right center field off reliever Isaac Mattson — in the sixth inning to extend Milwaukee’s lead to 5-2.
The game was delayed in the bottom of the sixth for an hour and 50 minutes.
Just before the delay, the Pirates put a scoring threat together with two outs when Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled and then scored on a double by Oneil Cruz. Brewers rookie Carlos Rodriguez (1-0) made his season debut, and walked Andrew McCutchen, putting runners at the corners before the game was halted. Rodriguez returned to the mound after the delay and struck out Bryan Reynolds to end Pittsburgh’s threat.
Rodriguez was called up from Triple-A Nashville as expected on Thursday, but did not start. He pitched 3 1/3 innings in relief in his season debut, and allowed three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out two.
Rodriguez exited in the ninth after walking Cruz and McCutchen and allowing an RBI double to Reynolds. Trevor Megill relieved Rodriguez and proceeded to get three quick outs.
Aaron Civale (hamstring), who was activated Thursday from the injured list, made the start and pitched four innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three.
Spencer Horwitz led Pittsburgh with two hits, including a solo home run in the fourth off Civale.
The Pirates avoided setting a major league record with what would have been their 27th consecutive game scoring four runs or fewer when Horwitz grounded out but drove in McCutchen for their fifth run in the ninth inning.
Megill picked up his eighth save of the season when Ke’Bryan Hayes lined out to second.
Milwaukee made corresponding moves after its pitcher callups, optioning pitcher Easton McGee to Triple-A Nashville and designating right-hander Joel Payamps for assignment.
