Gallardo tosses 14 strikeouts as Brewers top Pittsburgh

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MILWAUKEE - Yovani Gallardo had a career-high 14 strikeouts yesterday, as the Milwaukee Brewers topped Pittsburgh 4-1 at Miller Park.

The Brewers took 2-of-3 from the Pirates. But Milwaukee failed to gain ground in the National League Central Division, as Cincinnati moved into first by sweeping the Saint Louis Cardinals. The Brewers remain eight games out of the lead – same as a week ago – as they open a three-game home series against the Redbirds tonight.

Gallardo went seven innings yesterday, giving up one run on four hits. His only real mistake was a solo homer by Andrew McCutchen, who went yard for his fourth straight game. McCutchen had three hits on the day, as he continues to lead the Majors with a .371 batting average. Gallardo now has 17 career games with 10 strikeouts or more, and the win improved his record to 8-and-6. John Axford earned his 16th save. A-J Burnett ended a string of nine straight victories for Pittsburgh. He struck out seven in seven innings, but took the loss to fall to 10-and-3. The Brewers scored all four of their runs in the sixth. Garrett Jones committed a throwing error that allowed the first run to score. Aramis Ramirez then hit an RBI-single, and Rickie Weeks and Martin Maldonado capped off the rally with run-scoring doubles. Maldonado went 3-for-4.

The Pirates lost a series for the first time since June 14th. Milwaukee has won three-of-four, and is now seven games back for a National League Wild Card spot. Right-hander Mike Fiers will start for the Crew tonight in the opener of the Cardinals’ series. Right-hander Lance Lynn goes for Saint Louis.

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Former Brewers’ All-Star Ben Sheets got the victory, as Atlanta beat the New York Mets 6-to-1 at Turner Field. The 33-year-old right-hander tossed six shutout innings in his first start since July 19th of 2010, when he was with the Oakland A’s. Sheets gave up two hits and struck out five, as he improved to 5-and-2 in nine starts against the Mets. He signed a minor league contract with Atlanta on July first, and went 0-and-1 in a pair of starts for Double-“A” Mississippi earlier this month. Sheets played eight seasons in Milwaukee with four All-Star appearances, and he lasted for just over a half-season with Oakland.

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