Deja Crew: J-Hay tags Thornburg with winner

PITTSBURGH — Brewers reliever Tyler Thornburg has won most of his career matchups against Pirates infielder Josh Harrison. But when Harrison has won the at-bat, he’s also won the game.

Harrison delivered his second game-ending hit off Thornburg in as many seasons, racing around the bases on a ninth-inning triple and an error for a 3-2 Pirates win at Miller Park. It conjured memories of last Sept. 13, when Harrison yanked a single to left field off Thornburg for a 7-6 Pirates win in 11 innings.

Those are Harrison’s two hits in five career at-bats against Thornburg. All told, Harrison has six career walk-off hits.

“Some guys get presented with that opportunity more than others,” he said. “It’s not a situation any of us practice being in. We just go up there. Like Clint [Hurdle, Pittsburgh’s manager] says, ‘The game doesn’t know it’s important.’ That’s the biggest thing. We tend to think the second at-bat is bigger than the first or vice versa. But at the end of the day, they all count just as much.”

Harrison’s Little League homer came two pitches into the bottom of the ninth, after the Brewers had rallied in the top of the frame for a tying run against All-Star closer Mark Melancon. Brewers …

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