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SteemSports Editor:
A day after eking out a 2-1 opening day extra innings victory over the Padres in San Diego, the Milwaukee Brewers were able to put together an impressive 9th inning rally from 3 down to win their second in a row to start the season. The Brew Crew found themselves trailing the Padres 6-3 heading into the 9th inning at Petco Park.
After catcher Manny Pina started off the 9th with a single, pinch-hitter Jesus Aguilar followed suit with a single of his own to give the Brewers runners at first and second with no outs. Shortstop Orlando Arcia was then able to reach first on an error by closer Brad Hand to load the bases with still nobody out. Jonathan Villar followed with an RBI single, and new off-season acquisition Lorenzo Cain scored another with an RBI ground out to short that brought the Crew to within 6-5 with one away.
After the club's other big off-season pickup, Christian Yelich grounded into a fielder's choice that saw Arcia thrown out at the plate for the second out of the inning, it appeared that the Padres could breath a little easier. It was short-lived however, as Ryan Braun stepped up and bashed a 3-run home run to left that completed the rally and gave the Brewers an 8-6 lead.
Closer Corey Knebel, an All-Star a season ago, was able to step in and get a 1-2-3 bottom to close it out for the Crew, a day after blowing a save and a 1-0 lead in the opener. Knebel - who set a MLB record a season ago for most consecutive appearances with at least one strikeout with 45, struck out the side to preserve the rally and give the Brewers the 8-6 victory.
In the day's loan Inter-league match-up, the Pirates and Tigers played an exciting game that took extra innings to finally decide. With the game tied up 6-6 heading to the 9th, Pittsburgh erupted for 4 runs in the top half to take a 10-6 lead. The 4 run outburst seemed like it would be enough to give Pittsburgh the W in the season opener for both squads.
Detroit had different plans however, as they were able to show great plate discipline to draw 3 walks in the bottom half, along with a pair of doubles that was enough to score 4 of their own and tie it up 10-10 and send the game into extras. The bats cooled off for both squads in the extra frames as they managed just 2 hits combined over the 10th, 11th, and 12th innings. The Tigers had a chance to walk-off in the 10th, but had a base-runner thrown out at home on pinch-hitter JaCoby Jones' single.
Flash-forward to the 13th, where Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco sent a 3-run homer into the stands and the Pirates closed out the bottom half for an exciting 13-10 victory. Polanco finished the game 3 for 5 with a double, home run, walk, 3 runs scored, and 4 RBIs. It was a huge effort for a team that was thought to be in rebuild mode entering the season after trading away pitching ace Gerrit Cole and former MVP Andrew McCutchen this past off-season. In the end, what an opener it was for both squads - 4-run rallies by both teams in the 9th, a play at the plate in the 10th, and a 3-run bomb in the 13th, not to mention that the clubs combined to use 15 pitchers. If you like offense, this one was as enjoyable as they come.
The season is two days old and already a couple of wild ones! Thank you for following
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