Hello, Newman! SS ties record with four 2Bs

PITTSBURGH -- The Pirates welcomed a hot Milwaukee team to PNC Park on Saturday, but a strong display of small ball led by a historic performance from Kevin Newman gave the home team the edge to snap its eight-game losing streak.

The Bucs plated 12 runs on 15 hits and three walks over the third through fifth innings to power a 14-4 win over the National League Central-leading Brewers in Game 1 of Saturday’s split seven-inning doubleheader.

• Box score

One guy the Pirates hope to see encouraging signs of over the last two months of the season was particularly instrumental. Newman hit four doubles in four at-bats, tying the AL/NL record for the most doubles in a game. That mark is also held by former Pirates Adam Frazier (May 1, 2019) and Paul Waner (May 20, 1932).

“When I was coming off the field and I was told that I was part of a Major League record, it's something that hits deep,” Newman said, “because that's what you dream about as a kid. Super honored and glad I was in there today and I was able to do that."

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Newman, who posted a .214 average and MLB-worst .531 OPS through Aug. 2 (among qualified hitters), has seen an uptick in recent days, as he has batted .345 with six doubles in the past nine games.

“[We’re] trying to get him to be a little more aggressive with his swings,” manager Derek Shelton said, “and I think when you are more aggressive, you hit the ball harder. Today, we saw that.”