Gallardo sharp again as Brewers inch closer in the Wild Card

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PITTSBURGH - The Milwaukee Brewers are still two-and-a-half games back for the final National League Wild Card spot, after shutting out the Pirates in Pittsburgh 6-0 last night.

The Brew Crew kept pace with front-running Saint Louis, which beat Houston 4-1. The Los Angeles Dodgers dropped to one-and-a-half games behind the Cards, after they were rained out at Washington. The Brewers stole seven bases, tied for the second-most in team history – and it was the most for the Crew in a single game since August of 1992. Ryan Braun had three of those seven steals. Milwaukee out-hit the Pirates 13-to-3. But the Crew failed to get an extra-base hit, ending a Major League-leading streak of 85 games with more than a single. Yovani Gallardo won his eighth straight decision, as he struck out six in six-and-two-thirds scoreless innings. Gallardo gave up two hits and four walks, as he improved to 16-and-8 on the year. A.J. Burnett lost his fourth straight decision, giving up two runs in six frames. Burnett hit two batters early, as he fell to 15-and-8. Milwaukee batters were plunked three times in all, extending their Major League lead to 90 for the season. Jean Segura drove in two runs with a pair of singles. Norichika Aoki also drove in two with a single and a sacrifice fly. Braun and Jonathan Lucroy drove in Milwaukee’s other runs with singles, as the Crew beat Pittsburgh for the fifth straight time.

The Pirates have dropped 9-of-11 overall, and they fell a game behind Milwaukee in the Wild Card chase to three-and-a-half back. The Brewers will play in Pittsburgh again tonight. Right-hander Marco Estrada will start against Pirates right-hander Kyle McPherson.

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Brewers’ manager Ron Roenicke still hopes to get Corey Hart back at first base sometime in the final 15 regular season games. Hart has been made available for pinch-hitting duties, after he tore the plantar fascia in his left foot nine days ago. He’s been out since then. Hart has been making progress – but it’s slower than both he and the Brewers would like. He said he can run straight and quote, “If baseball was all straight lines, I’d be good to go.” Roenicke said he’s not sure what will happen with Hart. He said if he keeps improving, he should be able to start at some point. Hart is batting .278 this year with 27 homers and 77 RBI’s.

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