Pirates 2, Brewers 1
Pedro Alvarez and Garrett Jones hit solo homers and Francisco Liriano pitched six innings of one-run ball as Pittsburgh extended its winning streak to eight games.
Liriano (7-3) struck out six to improve to 6-2 lifetime against Milwaukee as the Pirates became the first team in the majors to reach 50 wins with their longest winning streak since a 10-game run during the 2004 season. Tony Watson and Mark Melancon each pitched a scoreless inning before Jason Grilli worked a perfect ninth for his 27th save in 28 chances.
Brewers right-hander Donovan Hand (0-1), making his second career start, allowed two runs on five hits over five innings. Milwaukee's only run came on Yuniesky Betancourt's two-out single in the sixth inning.
Alvarez put Pittsburgh on the scoreboard with a towering homer - his 20th - in the second inning that rolled into the Allegheny River and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games. Jones doubled the lead in the fourth with a solo shot to center, his first homer since June 2.
Liriano was touched for one-out singles by Carlos Gomez and Aramis Ramirez in the sixth before Betancourt pulled the Brewers within a run with a run-scoring single to right-center. The Pirates remained one game ahead of St. Louis atop the NL Central.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Alvarez became the first Pittsburgh player with 20 homers by the All-Star break since Brian Giles in 2002, and the first with at least 10 homers in June since Richie Hebner (1975). ... ... Brewers LF Ryan Braun (hand), who has been on the 15-day disabled list since June 10 and shut down from baseball activities, is feeling better and will swing a bat Tuesday. ... Pirates RHP A.J. Burnett (calf) had no issues during a bullpen session Friday and is scheduled to throw a simulated game Tuesday. The news was not as encouraging on LHP Wandy Rodriguez, who has been shut down from throwing after experiencing tightness in his left forearm.