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Pirates finish off sweep of Brewers

Apr 19, 2015 - 10:48 PM Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Gerrit Cole pitched six strong innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates finished off a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers with a 5-2 win on Sunday.

Cole (2-0) allowed two runs on five hits while walking one and striking out six and Chris Stewart drove in a pair of runs for the Pirates, who have won five of their last seven.

"I was able to make some adjustments as we got deeper into the ball game," said Cole. "I started locating my fastball better and I think that kept them off-balance."

Matt Garza (1-2) was tagged for all five runs on seven hits with three walks and three strikeouts in six innings for the Brewers, who have lost five in a row. Jean Segura and Jonathan Lucroy each drove in a run in the loss.

"I think we're frustrated quite a bit on both ends, offense and defense," said Garza. "We're putting too much on one play instead of looking at the big process."

The Pirates got on board in the first as a pair of singles left runners on the corners and Josh Harrison scored on a wild pitch. Andrew McCutchen followed with an RBI single for a 2-0 lead.

Milwaukee answered in the top of the second to tie the game as Segura scored one on a groundout, and Lucroy beat out an infield single to plate another run for a 2-2 contest.

Pedro Alvarez belted a solo shot over the wall in center for his fourth home of the year in the third to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead.

In the sixth, Pittsburgh padded its advantage as Alvarez led off with a walk and Jordy Mercer was hit by a pitch and was replaced by pinch-runner Jung Ho Kang. Both players moved up a base on a wild pitch and came home on Stewart's single to left for a 5-2 lead.

Milwaukee had just two singles after the second inning, with Mark Melancon working a scoreless ninth for his second save of the season.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh hosts the Chicago Cubs for three games starting on Monday ... Milwaukee hosts Cincinnati for three games beginning on Monday ... Cole moved to 2-2 in six career starts against the Brewers ... Cole has won six consecutive decisions going back to last season ... Garza fell to 2-3 in nine games against the Pirates.