MILWAUKEE — With just over two weeks left in the regular season http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-roberto-clemente-jersey , the Milwaukee Brewers are still nipping at the Chicago Cubs’ heels in the National League Central race while trying to protect their wild-card lead from the resurgent Los Angeles Dodgers.But if the Brewers are going to snap a seven-year postseason drought, they’ll need to figure out the Pittsburgh Pirates.“They’ve got good arms, guys who throw hard with power stuff,” Milwaukee outfielder Christian Yelich said. “Any time you face them, you know it could be a tough night, a battle. You’ve got to do what you can.”Article continues below ...After opening the series with a 7-4 victory Friday night, the Brewers couldn’t do much Saturday in Game 2 of the series, mustering just one run in a 3-1 loss to the Pirates. It was the Brewers’ 10th loss in 15 meetings with the Pirates this season and the ninth time Pittsburgh’s pitching held Milwaukee to three or fewer runs.“They’ve been pitching-based for the last couple of years,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “You figure that’s the game you’re going to be in when you play these guys.”The loss left the Brewers 2 1/2 games back of the Cubs in the NL Central but still holding onto a three-game lead over the Dodgers for the top wild-card spot. The Brewers will try to pad that lead while also chipping into Chicago’s on Sunday when they wrap up the series against Trevor Williams.Williams gave up four runs in five innings against St. Louis his last time out Kent Tekulve Jersey , equaling the total runs he’d allowed in his previous nine starts. “I’m just thankful I’m not pitching against the Cardinals again for the rest of the year,'” Williams said. “‘They’re a great ballclub and I wish them nothing but success going into October.”He has fared a little better against Milwaukee, posting a 2.18 ERA in four career appearances, including three starts. He threw seven shutout innings against the Brewers on June 18, allowing one hit and striking out seven.Williams followed that gem with three rough outings, allowing 12 runs in 13 innings but has been one of the best pitchers in the National League ever since, posting an 0.66 ERA in a nine-start stretch leading up to the Monday night game against the Cardinals. “It’s been really a strong stretch,”‘ Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said.The Brewers look to clinch their ninth consecutive series behind right-hander Jhoulys Chacin, who has a 2.28 ERA in four outings against the Pirates this season. That success was the reason Counsell flipped Chacin and Wade Miley in his rotation. Miley has struggled against Pittsburgh http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-bill-mazeroski-jersey , posting a 4.82 ERA in two starts, and will now start Monday against the Cincinnati Reds, a team he held to one run in 7 1/3 innings on Aug. 30.“Like I’ve always said, this is something I really wanted when I signed here — to pitch in meaningful games,” Chacin said. “Hopefully in the next couple weeks, we can celebrate making the playoffs. We have 15 more games, but right now it feels like we’ve earned our way. We’re finishing the season strong and in a good way, so I think that’s going to push us more in the playoffs.” CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Former major league players Luis Valbuena and Jose Castillo were killed in a car crash in Venezuela caused by highway bandits who then robbed them Dave Parker Jersey , officials said Friday.The 33-year-old Valbuena and 37-year-old Castillo died late Thursday when their SUV crashed as it tried to veer around an object on the road, Yaracuy state Gov. Julio Leon Heredia said on his Twitter account. Officials said some bandits place or throw objects on highways to force vehicles to stop or crash so they can rob the occupants.Heredia said four people have been detained after being found with property of the athletes.Valbuena and Castillo were teammates on the Cardenales de Lara team in the Venezuelan winter league and were returning from a game in the capital when the crash occurred en route to the city of Barquisimeto.Third baseman Carlos Rivero was in the car and survived, according to the website beisbolplay.Valbuena, an 11-year major league veteran, hit .199 with nine homers and 33 RBIs in 96 games this year for the Los Angeles Angels, who released him on Aug. 7.“I will miss Luis’ banter, smile, genuine love for his teammates, and Josh Harrison Jersey , of course, the bat flips,” Astros manager AJ Hinch said in a statement. “He was a beloved person whether he was on our team or across the field.”Valbuena hit .226 with 114 home runs over 11 big league seasons with the Angels, Seattle, Cleveland, the Chicago Cubs and Houston.“Luis was always smiling and was one of the happiest players in baseball,” Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said in a statement. “He provided joy to his teammates and our fans. He helped our franchise turn a corner in 2015 and provided many cherished memories.”Castillo played five seasons with Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Houston. He had a .254 average with 39 home runs.Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said in a tweet that “I join in the mourning that has overwhelmed the Venezuelan baseball family and all of its fans.”Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred issued a statement calling it “a very sad day for our sport.”“It is clear by all the stories today that they loved baseball and made an impact on their teammates and the Clubs they represented,” he said http://www.piratesfanproshop.com/authentic-gregory-polanco-jersey , expressing “my deepest condolences to their families, friends and fans, particularly those in their native Venezuela.”By late Friday afternoon, the coffins with the players’ bodies had arrived in Antonio Herrera Gutierrez stadium in Barquisimeto where they were received amid tears by their teammates. A Mass was held to bid them good bye.The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League announced that all three scheduled games Friday were cancelled and it said flags will fly at half-staff in all stadiums for three days.League president Juan Jose Avila told Union Radio that he was evaluating the possibility of forbidding players from traveling in private cars to move between games, saying if the players had been on the team bus, “nothing would have happened to them.”Venezuelan teams tend to travel in buses protected by security forces.
