Brewers 5, Pirates 2
Marco Estrada let up one run in six innings and Jonathan Lucroy drove in two runs as host Milwaukee won its third straight game.
Rickie Weeks, Mark Reynolds and Jean Segura had an RBI apiece for the Brewers, who improved to 52-12 against Pittsburgh at home since 2007. Estrada (3-1) gave up six hits and struck out eight while bumping his career mark to 6-0 versus the Pirates.
Neil Walker homered and Gaby Sanchez had a pinch-hit RBI double in the eighth for Pittsburgh. Gerrit Cole (3-3) surrendered three runs on seven hits and three walks while fanning six in 5 2/3 frames.
Walker took a 3-1 offering from Estrada out to center just one out into the game but the Brewers right-hander wiggled out of trouble for the remainder of the night and was given the lead for good on Lucroy's two-run single in the third. Segura doubled and came in on Weeks' infield hit in the sixth to make it 3-1 and Milwaukee got two more on three singles and a sacrifice fly in the seventh.
Will Smith escaped further trouble following Sanchez's double and Francisco Rodriguez was perfect in the ninth for his 16th save in 17 chances. Brewers right fielder Ryan Braun was 0-for-2 in his return from the disabled list before leaving in the seventh inning, and center fielder Carlos Gomez departed with back tightness in the fifth.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Milwaukee placed 3B Aramis Ramirez (hamstring) on the 15-day disabled list. ... The Pirates were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight men on base. ... Weeks is 12-for-20 since April 25.