Joey Ortiz had a night to remember on Tuesday, powering the Milwaukee Brewers to a 9-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field with a pair of home runs. This marked the first multi-homer game of Ortiz's career, and his four RBIs matched a career high, contributing significantly to the Brewers' offensive outburst.
Ortiz wasn't alone in fueling the Brewers' triumph. Caleb Durbin also launched a home run, driving in three runs and scoring twice. Their combined efforts from the bottom of the lineup proved crucial, as they went 4-for-8 with four runs and seven RBIs. The Brewers have now won five of their last six games, showcasing a potent offense that has scored at least seven runs in each of those victories.
The scoring began in the third inning when Ortiz blasted a two-run homer, bringing in Durbin, who had previously singled. The Brewers then extended their lead in the fourth inning with back-to-back home runs from Durbin and Ortiz. Durbin's three-run shot went down the left-field line, while Ortiz followed with a 398-foot drive into the bullpen in left-center, making it a 6-0 ballgame.
Milwaukee added another run in the fifth when Jackson Chourio singled, advanced on a walk and a double play, and then scored on a wild pitch. The Pirates responded in the sixth when Nick Gonzales hit a three-run homer, but Ortiz drove in his fourth run in the eighth with a bases-loaded fielder's choice. Sal Frelick then added an RBI single to cap off the Brewers' scoring.
Freddy Peralta earned the win for Milwaukee, pitching five-plus innings and allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out eight. Meanwhile, Andrew Heaney took the loss for Pittsburgh, surrendering seven runs on seven hits in four-plus innings.
Ortiz has been on a hot streak recently, going 12-for-26 in his last six games. This surge has raised his batting average from .188 to .217 and improved his OPS from .506 to .572. Before Tuesday's game, Ortiz was batting below his weight, with a .183/.257/.248 slash line as recently as June 10. However, his solid defense and recent offensive contributions have solidified his role in the Brewers' lineup.
Looking ahead, the series concludes Wednesday afternoon with a highly anticipated pitching matchup between Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes and Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski.