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. Authentic Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap . The recently retired Stern was elected Friday to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and will be enshrined with the class of 2014 on Aug. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the Carolina Hurricanes, announced Wednesday that the team would assign Swedish forward Elias Lindholm to his nations team for the upcoming tournament. http://www.wholesalechinajerseyscheap.com/ . The showiest items on Calgarys lot were forwards Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak. Both will be unrestricted free agents this summer. Wholesale Jersys From China . -- The Portland Timbers and Real Salt Lake played to a 0-0 tie Saturday night that left the top of the Western Conference standings unchanged. Cheap China Jerseys . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training. Saturday is the first full day of competition at the Rio Olympics, and the first 12 gold medals will be awarded. Here are some of the highlights:Heats begin at noon ET: Four swimming finals will be awarded. And the United States Katie Ledeckys first swim of these Games is expected to be in the prelims of the 4x100m freestyle relay. She would win a medal if the U.S. finishes in the top three Saturday night.4 p.m. ET: The top-ranked U.S. womens team faces third-ranked France in the second game of the group stage. The winner will likely advance to the quarterfinals, but winning the group will provide an easier knockout path. Assuming she plays, Hope Solo will the first keeper in soccer history -- female or male -- to play 200 international games.6 p.m. ET: The U.S. mens team opens against China. The U.S. has won the last two gold medals and is on a 68-game win streak since the 2006 World Championships. Carmelo Anthony will tie a team record by playing in his 24th Olympic game, and he needs 18 points to pass Michael Jordan for third on the teams Olympic scoring list.Race begins at 8:30 a.m. ET: The mens road race is one of the first medal events on Saturday, and the competition will be familiar for those with Tour de France memories dancing in their heads. Great Britains Chris Froome, who last month won his third Tour title in the past four years, will try to do what fellow Brit Bradley Wiggins did four years ago in London -- win both the yellow jersey and gold medal in the same year.dddddddddddd The course is grueling, and a climbers dream. Froomes biggest competition will come from Vincenzo Nibali and Alejandro Valverde.Begins at 9:30 a.m. ET: The U.S. mens team looks to redeem a disappointing team finish four years ago in London, as qualifying begins Saturday. They will compete in the second of three subdivisions (1:30 p.m. ET at Rio Olympic Arena), and the five team members are Chris Brooks, Jacob Dalton, Danell Leyva, Sam Mikulak and Alex Naddour. Leyva was called up after John Orozco withdrew last month with an ACL injury.And finally ...Need I say more?! Playing tomorrow night and just cant wait! #olympics #dreams pic.twitter.com/XMciaBvGHT- Venus Williams (@Venuseswilliams) August 5, 2016Will Venus Williams successful 2016 continue in Rio? Venus, who is tied with sister Serena for the most Olympic gold medals with four, takes on Belgiums Kirsten Flipkens in the opening round (5:45 p.m. ET). Madison Keys takes on Danka Kovinic (11 a.m. ET), while one of the biggest matchups of the day comes between Canadas Eugenie Bouchard and Team USAs Sloane Stephens. Jack Sock is the lone American on the schedule in the mens draw.For a complete list of the days events, go here. cheap falcons jerseys cheap ravens jerseys cheap bills jerseys cheap bears jerseys cheap bengals jerseys cheap cowboys jerseys cheap lions jerseys cheap texans jerseys cheap colts jerseys cheap jaguars jerseys cheap chiefs jerseys cheap rams jerseys cheap dolphins jerseys cheap vikings jerseys cheap saints jerseys cheap giants jerseys cheap jets jerseys cheap eagles jerseys cheap steelers jerseys cheap 49ers jerseys ' ' '