MLB: Milwaukee 3, San Diego 2 (11 inn.)

MILWAUKEE, Sept. 6 (UPI) -- J.J. Hardy singled in Craig Counsell from third with one out in the 11th Friday, allowing the Milwaukee Brewers to escape with a 3-2 victory over San Diego.

The Brewers ended a four-game losing streak and were finally able to take advantage of the Chicago Cubs' current six-game skid. Milwaukee trails Chicago by four games in the NL Central and the Brewers are four games in front of their closest wild-card challenger -- the Philadelphia Phillies.

Brian Giles led off the San Diego eighth with a homer to tie the game. The Padres went on to put two runners on base in the eighth, ninth, 10th and 11th without scoring.

Milwaukee also had a runner in scoring position with less than two away in both the ninth and 10th to no avail, but came through in the 11th against reliever Brian Falkenborg (2-3).

Mike Rivera opened the inning with a single and gave way for pinch-runner Alcides Escobar, who was forced at second on Counsell's grounder. Ray Durham singled Counsell to third and Counsell came in on Hardy's base hit to left.

Brian Shouse (5-1) recorded the last two outs in the top of the 11th to get the win.