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MILWAUKEE -- The Pittsburgh Pirates had timely hitting, but a key double play helped even more.Andrew McCutchen, Jody Mercer and Josh Bell each drove in two runs and the Pirates preserved their faint playoff hopes with a 6-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.The Pirates won their fifth straight at Miller Park, and fifth of six overall to improve to .500 (75-75) for the first time since they were 69-69 on Sept. 8. Pittsburgh began the day five games behind San Francisco for the second NL wild card spot and St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins in between the Pirates and Giants.McCutchens two-run double in the first staked rookie left-hander Steven Brault to an early lead. Then, Bells two-run single in the top of fifth chased starter Matt Garza (5-8).Staked to a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth, Brault walked Jonathan Villar who stole second and moved to third on Orlando Arcias single to center. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle made a move to his bullpen and brought in Jared Hughes (1-1) to face Chris Carter.It is first and third with nobody out in the fifth, Hurdle said. Where we are in the season right now, I felt (Brault) gave us (enough.) It is a sticky situation.Carter lined Hughes first pitch at third baseman Jung Ho Kang, who fielded the ball cleanly and turned it into a double play that deflated the rally. Hughes struck out Domingo Santana to end the threat.We ended up scoring a run, but thats two outs right there on one pitch, Carter said. He ended up (retiring) the next guy. That kind of changed the momentum right there.Brewers manager Craig Counsell was even more emphatic.That was a big play, he said. We had guys on first and second and got to their bullpen. Chris hit a ball hard, and he made a nice play. That certainly was the play of the game, for sure.The Brewers went quietly the rest of the way against the Pirates bullpen.You want guys who can come in and have some experience and take care of it from there, Hurdle said.And thats exactly what happened.Wade LeBlanc pitched the sixth which ended on another double play. Juan Nicasio set the side down in order in the seventh. Antonio Bastardo struck out two in the eighth and Tony Watson tossed a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 17 chances.Brault was making his seventh career start and had already lost twice to the Brewers. He allowed Santanas run-scoring double in the third and Martin Maldonados home run in the fourth. Brault scattered five hits, struck out four, walked two and was three outs from his first major-league win.Even though I couldnt go the five and get the win, I kept my team in it, Brault said. We got the win. We are making a playoff push, that is all that really matters right now.Mercer produced run-scoring singles in the fourth and sixth.Adam Frazier went 3 for 4, scored twice and extended his streak of reaching base safely to 10 straight games for the Pirates.Garza allowed five runs and eight hits over four innings. He walked two and struck out two while slipping to 1/3 in four starts against the Pirates this seasonThe Brewers had won 11 of 17 since the Pirates four-game sweep in Milwaukee at the end of August, with home and away series victories over the NL Central Champion Chicago Cubs.NICASIO SETS A FRANCHISE RECORDRHP Juan Nicasio has recorded at least one strikeout in 30 straight appearances, a single-season club record for a Pirates relief pitcher. According to Elias, its the longest such streak in the majors this season and ties Cody Allens record with Cleveland in 2015.FEELING RIGHT AT HOMEMcCutchens two-run double in the first extended his hitting streak to eight games and gave him 48 RBI in 62 career games at Miller Park.GARZA RUNSOpponents have roughed up Garza for 26 runs (16 earned) in his last seven starts. He is 1-4 with a 4.00 ERA over that stretch.NEW BREWERS DADSLF Ryan Braun and C Manny Pina were out of the lineup in order to be with their wives and the newest member of his respective family. Brauns wife, Larisa, gave birth to a son, Greyson Joseph. Pinas wife, Leny, gave birth to a daughter, Jimena. However, Pina pinch hit in the ninth and flied out to end the game. Both players were expected back before the weekend.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: C Chris Stewart underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to be out six-to-eight weeks. Dr. James Andrews operated on the 34-year-old catcher in Gulf Shores, Florida. ... LF Starling Marte missed his 15th consecutive game with low back discomfort.Brewers: The Brewers selected the contract of C/1B Josmil Pinto from Triple-A Colorado Springs.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (4-3, 3.97 ERA) makes his 12th major-league start. The 24-year-old right-hander is 0-0 with a 2.84 ERA in one career outing against the Brewers.Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson (8-14, 4.42) makes his 10th career start against the Pirates. He is 5-2 with a 3.16 ERA in his previous nine starts, including 1-0 with a 4.80 ERA ibn three starts this season. Jaromir Jagr Stars Jersey . 31, the CFL club announced Monday. The team also has yet to decide on the future of Doug Berry, who began the season as a consultant to the head coach but took over the offensive co-ordinators duties in July. Jamie Benn Stars Jersey . Varlamov made 33 saves and Ryan OReilly had a goal and scored in the shootout as the Avalanche beat the New Jersey Devils 2-1 on Thursday night. http://www.thedallasstarshockey.com/brett-hull-hockey-jersey/ . -- Its been a long road back for Sean Bergenheim. Jaromir Jagr Jersey . -- Aaron Murray threw for 408 yards and three touchdowns, ran for another score, and led No. Craig Hartsburg Stars Jersey . -- Yogi Ferrell orchestrates pretty much everything in Indianas offence. WASHINGTON -- By the time Stephen Strasburg settled down and looked like his dominant self, it was too late and his undefeated season was over.Strasburg struck out 10, but allowed six runs and seven hits including two home runs and the Washington Nationals lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-3 on Thursday. Its Strasburgs first loss since Sept. 9, ending a streak of 16 consecutive winning decisions.During the streak he was outstanding, manager Dusty Baker said. You know every streak is going to end. Thats the best streak Ive ever seen I think. Now you just go back to the drawing board and start a new streak.The All-Star right-hander allowed two- and three-run home runs to third baseman Justin Turner in the first and third innings and an RBI single to first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. After Turners home run, Strasburg retired 12 of his final 13 batters.It was just a couple of pitches where I just didnt execute when I needed to, and I got beat on them, Strasburg said. Once I got past those first couple innings I started throwing more first-pitch strikes.Strasburg (13-1) had the longest winning streak to begin a season among National League starters since Rube Marquard of the New York Giants went 18-0 in 1912. The Dodgers hit the ball hard against him early, but he had that unstoppable stuff in his final three innings.At the plate, Strasburgs teammates couldnt crack Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias, who allowed one run and five hits in four innings. Bryce Harper drove in Trea Turner with a sacrifice fly in the first, Danny Espinosa had an RBI double and Daniel Murphy an RBI single off the Los Angeles bullpen.The Nationals left 12 runners on base in losing to the Dodgers for the fifth time in six games this season.We were fighting back, Baker said. We were stealing bases. We were trying to get runners in scoring position, which we did. We left 12 men oon bases.dddddddddddd. We had opportunities to get back into that game.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: OF Yasiel Puig left the game with right hamstring tightness that occurred when he tried to leg out a grounder as a pinch-hitter in the seventh. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he didnt know the severity of the injury. ... All-Star SS Corey Seager missed his third consecutive game because of a stomach virus. Roberts said Seager was feeling stronger, but didnt want to play him a full game in 90-degree heat and humidity.Nationals: 1B Ryan Zimmerman (left rib cage sprain) was set to start a rehab stint at Class A Potomac on Thursday night. Baker said hed like Zimmerman to play three minor-league games and return Tuesday in Cleveland. ... RHP Joe Ross (shoulder inflammation) threw a bullpen session prior to the game.WERTH THE RESTOriginally listed in the starting lineup, Jayson Werth was a late scratch when Baker said he woke up at 3:30 a.m. and changed it to give the outfielder a rest. Werth had a pinch-hit double in the eighth to extend his on-base streak to 25 games.REVOLVING BULLPEN DOORRoberts used seven relievers to throw the final five innings: RHP Pedro Baez, LHP Luis Avilan, RHP Louis Coleman, LHP J.P. Howell, RHP Joe Blanton, LHP Adam Liberatore (2-0) and finally RHP Kenley Jansen, who earned his 28th save. The only one left was LHP Grant Dayton, who was recalled earlier in the day.UP NEXTDodgers: RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-0, 1.69 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series in St. Louis against RHP Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.45)Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (9-5, 2.82) continues his impressive season against the San Diego Padres, who are scheduled to start RHP Luis Perdomo (3-4, 7.36) in the series opener at Nationals Park ' ' '