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Gomez, Ramirez power Brewers past struggling Pirates

Aug 26, 2012 - 11:41 PM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Carlos Gomez belted a three-run homer and Aramis Ramirez added a two-run blast to back Mark Rogers and the Brewers' pitching staff in a 7-0 victory over the struggling Pirates.

Rogers (2-1), coming off his first career victory, scattered three hits and three walks in five scoreless innings for the Brewers, who took the series and have won five of six overall.

"We need to be able to beat the teams in front of us. Not just for now, but for next year and whenever we get in series that are tight," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said.

The playoff-contending Pirates have dropped six of their last eight heading into a three-game series against the NL Central-rival Cardinals.

Erik Bedard (7-14) took the loss after allowing six runs on six hits and two walks in 4 2/3 frames.

Bedard entered Sunday's outing with a 2.63 ERA in 11 previous home starts and did not allow a hit through the first 3 2/3 innings.

Things changed drastically in the fourth, however, as Corey Hart and Jonathan Lucroy each singled with two away in front of Gomez, who followed with his 13th home run of the season over the left-field wall.

"I made some good pitches early, and then they started hitting the ball around," Bedard said.

Rogers doubled off his counterpart to open the fourth and scored two batters later on Rickie Weeks' base hit up the middle.

Ramirez ended Bedard's outing by taking a 2-0 offering over the center-field wall, and Norichika Aoki tacked on a sacrifice fly after Jean Segura led off the sixth with a triple.

Manny Parra hurled two scoreless innings behind Rogers, while Jose Veras and Kameron Loe closed out the shutout with an inning of relief apiece.

Game Notes

Sunday may have been Rogers' final start, as the 26-year-old right-hander has thrown 129 innings between Milwaukee and Triple-A Nashville after throwing just 44 1/3 innings last year following wrist surgery ... The Pirates, who stranded 12 runners, have not won a home series since a three-game sweep of the Marlins in late July ... Lucroy had three of Milwaukee's 13 hits.