Wells Loses No-Hitter, Game

Kip Wells came within five outs of a no-hitter Monday night, but Jamey Wright pitched even better.

Alex Sanchez broke up Wells’ no-hit bid with one out in the eighth inning, and Wright pitched a three-hitter as the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 2-0, Monday night at PNC Park.

“That’s probably the most frustrating loss I’ve had in the big leagues,” Wells said.

Wright (2-6) held the Pirates to three singles as he won for the first time since defeating San Diego on May 24. It was his second shutout, first this season.

Wright had lost his last three decisions to the Pirates and four in a row in Pittsburgh. He struck out four and walked four.

Wells (9-5) struck out Wright for the first out of the eighth before Sanchez lined an 0-1 pitch over third baseman Aramis Ramirez for a single.

Sanchez, who has been focusing on hitting to the opposite field, was looking for an outside pitch.

He stole second, went to third on a fly ball and scored when a slumping Jeffrey Hammonds doubled to right-center. The Brewers added a run in the ninth when Alex Ochoa scored on Paul Bako’s single.