Kuhl stays cool vs. Crew, continues strong ’16

MILWAUKEE — The puns are there to be had — he’s a Kuhl customer, Kuhl under pressure and so on — but starter Chad Kuhl’s performance in the Pirates’ 3-2 win on Thursday against the Brewers was no joke.

Making his eighth big league start, Kuhl kept Milwaukee’s offense under control through 6 1/3 innings until eventually cracking, as he led the Pirates to just their 18th win in their last 82 games at Miller Park. With the Cardinals falling to the Mets, Pittsburgh drew within 2 1/2 games of the second Wild Card spot, as well.

“It was another really good outing,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “That’s the deepest he’s been in a game. It was fun to watch.”

Kuhl, 23, allowed just two hits while retiring his first 19 batters into the seventh. After not striking out a batter in his last outing, he fanned five Brewers on Thursday but remained efficient with his pitch count, as well. With a sinker inducing ground balls and a slider keeping hitters off-balance, it appeared Kuhl may continue to breeze …

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