Final: Brewers 6, Pirates 0

WP: Yovani Gallardo (16-8, 3.59 ERA)
LP: A.J. Burnett (15-8, 3.64 ERA)

The Brewers were eight for eight in stolen base attempts, including three by Ryan Braun as they ran their way to a 6-0 shutout victory in game one of a pivotal three game series.

A.J. Burnett started for the Pirates and allowed just two runs over six innings, but Milwaukee’s Yovani Gallardo was better, pitching 6 2/3 scoreless innings before giving way to his bullpen.

Neil Walker was 2 for 4, which accounted for all but one of the Pirates hits.

The Pirates are now 74-73 and 3.5 games back of the Cardinals for the second wild card spot with 15 games remaining.

The Pirates have lost six straight games in which A.J. Burnett has started. They have been outscored 34-13 in those six starts.

The Pirates have caught just 9% of attempted base stealers this season. That number is by far the lowest in the Majors.

Final: Pirates 6, Astros 2

WP: Wandy Rodriguez (10-13, 3.71 ERA)
LP: Jordan Lyles (3-11, 5.55 ERA)

Wandy Rodriguez cruised through seven scoreless innings against his former team and the Pirates got big time production from Brock Holt and Andrew McCutchen to end their four game skid. Rodriguez struck out seven while walking just one. That’s back to back shut out performances by the left hander.

Brock Holt sparked the Pirates’ offense by going 4 for 5 with a double out of the lead off spot. Andrew McCutchen played an equally large role by driving in three runs with a 4 for 4 night to regain the lead for the batting title.

The rest of the Pirates offense went just 2 for 25, but that was more than what was needed to take this game with ease.

I haven’t seen much of Holt, but what I have seen of him, I like. He is spraying balls all over the field and is getting on base, which no other previous Pirates’ lead off hitter this season has been able to do. When Neil Walker returns from his injury, I would not mind seeing what Holt looks like at shortstop for a couple of games.

Hopefully we’re seeing the start of Andrew McCutchen firing on all cylinders. He hit everything hard tonight and him being MVP-caliber again would really help this team down the stretch.

Travis Snider was pulled from the game after experiencing discomfort in his right hamstring while running the bases in the first inning.