The Milwaukee Brewers handed the Pittsburgh Pirates a 5-1 defeat at PNC Park on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, as right-hander Jacob Misiorowski dominated through five innings and the Pittsburgh bullpen imploded in the eighth. Brandon Lowe's solo home run accounted for Pittsburgh's only run in a game that was never truly competitive once Milwaukee's starter found his rhythm. The loss is a division defeat that stings — the Brewers walked out of the North Shore with a four-run margin and a performance the Pirates had no real answer for.

Jacob Misiorowski Shuts Down Pirates Offense for Five Innings

Misiorowski was the story from the first pitch. The Brewers right-hander worked five innings, allowed just five hits and one walk, and punched out seven Pittsburgh hitters. He did not surrender a single earned run. The Pittsburgh lineup put balls in play against him but could not string anything together when it mattered. Aaron Ashby followed with two clean innings — two strikeouts, one hit, one walk, zero runs — and the Brewers handed the ball to DL Hall for the eighth, where things briefly got interesting.

Hall gave up two hits and one earned run in his inning of work, which is when Brandon Lowe connected for his solo shot — the lone bright spot in an otherwise forgettable night at the plate for Pittsburgh. Trevor Megill closed it out in the ninth, allowing two hits but nothing on the scoreboard.

Gregory Soto's Eighth Inning Collapse Sealed Pittsburgh's Fate

If there was a turning point, it came in the eighth inning when Gregory Soto took the mound for Pittsburgh. Soto recorded just one out, surrendered two hits, walked two batters, and gave up four earned runs. In one-third of an inning, the game went from a 1-1 possibility — had Pittsburgh threatened — to a 5-1 final. That kind of meltdown in a division game is hard to explain away.

The rest of the Pittsburgh bullpen actually held its own. Brandon Eisert was sharp, throwing 2.1 innings without allowing a hit, a walk, or a run while striking out one. Yohan Ramírez worked two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout and no damage. Wilber Dotel added two-thirds of an inning with one strikeout. Antwone Kelly was the bright spot late, posting three innings of two-hit, two-walk, scoreless ball with three strikeouts. But none of that mattered after Soto's meltdown put the Brewers up by four.

Lake Bachar Takes the Loss as Pittsburgh Starter

Lake Bachar was tagged with the loss after working two innings, allowing three hits, two walks, and one earned run while striking out one. It was not a disaster line, but it left Pittsburgh's bullpen carrying the load far too early, which ultimately set the stage for Soto's rough outing.

Pittsburgh Bats Produce Hits But Not Runs

Credit Rafael Flores Jr., who went 4-for-4 on the night — a genuinely impressive performance at the plate. Nick Gonzales added a 2-for-3 night. The Pirates were not completely helpless against Milwaukee's pitching staff, but they could not turn contact into runs. Flores Jr.'s four hits produced zero RBI, which tells you everything about how Pittsburgh's night went with runners on base.

Lowe's home run was Pittsburgh's lone RBI of the game, his solo shot accounting for the only mark Pittsburgh put on the scoreboard.

For Milwaukee, Joey Ortiz did the damage that mattered most, going 3-for-4 with two RBI to pace the Brewers offense.

What's Next for the Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates will look to bounce back in their next game as the regular season continues. Pittsburgh will need better starting pitching depth and a bullpen that can get through late innings intact if they want to change the outcome in division matchups. The Soto implosion is something the coaching staff will need to address quickly. PNC Park gave the Pirates a home crowd, and it was not enough on Tuesday night.

  • Final score: Milwaukee Brewers 5, Pittsburgh Pirates 1
  • Winning pitcher: Jacob Misiorowski (5.0 IP, 7 K, 0 ER)
  • Losing pitcher: Lake Bachar (2.0 IP, 1 K, 1 ER)
  • Pittsburgh offensive highlight: Rafael Flores Jr. 4-for-4
  • Pittsburgh run: Brandon Lowe solo home run
  • Milwaukee offensive highlight: Joey Ortiz 3-for-4, 2 RBI
  • Critical moment: Gregory Soto allows 4 earned runs in one-third of an inning in the eighth