Hart's homer pushes Brewers over Pirates, 3-2

MILWAUKEE — Corey Hart homered to lead off the ninth inning and lift the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

The win was the Brewers second straight over the Pirates and the team's 10th win in its last 12 games. The Pirates lost for the ninth time in the last 12 games as Pittburgh continues to try to stay in the National League Wild Card playoff race.

Leading off the ninth inning, Hart hit the second pitch he saw from Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan (4-1) for his 26th home run of the season into the Brewers bullpen in left field. It was his third career game-ending home run.

John Axford (5-7), who got out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the ninth inning by striking out Alex Presley, got the win for the Brewers.

Marco Estrada gave up one run on four hits and struck out 10 in seven innings for Milwaukee. He has given up just one earned run in his last three starts. Estrada got out of a major jam in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, Estrada struck out Pedro Alvarez looking after Alvarez fouled off four pitches on a 3-2 count.

A.J. Burnett took a no-hitter into the sixth inning for the Pirates before giving up a two-out bloop single to Rickie Weeks. He came back to strike out Ryan Braun to end the inning.

Burnett pitched 6 2-3 innings, giving up two runs and two hits. He had nine strikeouts and four walks. It was a nice bounce back for Burnett, who had struggled in recent starts. The Pirates had lost three of his last four starts and he had recorded a 6.29 ERA over those four games.

The Pirates grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning as Alvarez hit his 27th home run of the season.

The Brewers tied the score at 1-1 in the third inning without getting a hit. Carlos Gomez walked, stole second and third base and then scored on a wild pitch.

The Brewers grabbed the lead in the seventh inning 2-1 on Gomez's RBI double.

Pittsburgh tied the game in the eighth inning off of Brewers reliever Jim Henderson. Pinch hitter Brock Holt walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice. With two out, Andrew McCutchen hit a broken bat single to right field to score Holt. It was the Brewers' 26th blown save of the season.