Pirates starter Wil Crowe (1-5) went 4 2/3 innings and gave up two runs on four hits with three strikeouts.
Clay Holmes could not manage on 20 fields (13 balls) in the sixth game for the Pirates, who have lost four times in a row. He allowed Keston Hiura an RBI single, which expanded Milwaukee’s lead to 3-1 after being blocked and the bases went loaded.
Daniel Robertson made it 4-1 on a victim flight with an out after Holmes was drawn for Chris Stratton.
“We’ve had good pitches, but there is frustration,” said Pirates manager Derek Shelton. “You work hard and we don’t see it being translated right now. We have to keep working hard, keep trying to get better in order to get out of this lull. “
Burnes’ only notable mistake came in fifth when Ben Gamel drove his cutter over the wall in right midfield to reduce Milwaukee’s lead to 2-1. The right-hander only needed 42 pitches to survive the first four innings.
Milwaukee deployed five helpers in a 15-7 comeback win over the Cubs on Wednesday night.
“One night when we really needed it, he gave us exactly what we needed,” said Brewers manager Craig Counsell of Burnes. “And in a really good manner. All in all, the night went the way we needed it. We got the rest of the boys a night in the Bullpen. The boys who needed it a night off. Brings us back to the point somehow. “
