PITTSBURGH, Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Aramis Ramirez broke open a tie game with a three-run double in the seventh Friday and the Milwaukee Brewers held on to nip Pittsburgh 6-5.
The Brewers won their fourth in a row and handed the faltering Pirates their fourth straight loss.
Pittsburgh battled back from an early two-run deficit to tie the contest in the fourth and it remained a 2-2 game until Milwaukee put together its decisive inning.
Milwaukee loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, thanks in part to reliever Jared Hughes hitting a batter and walking another. Ramirez then cleared the bases with his double to center and he scored on a single by Corey Hart.
Pittsburgh got one run back in the seventh on a homer by Rod Barajas and then scored twice in the ninth against closer John Axford.
With the tying and winning runs on base, Kameron Loe replaced Axford and struck out Gaby Sanchez to end the game. It was Loe's second save.
Michael Fiers (7-6) equaled a career best with 10 strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on five hits to get the win.
The loss went to Wandy Rodriguez (8-13), who was touched for three runs on six hits in 6 2/3. Rodriguez has lost seven of his last eight starts.
