BUCS PITCHERS COOL OFF BREWERS IN SHUTOUT

MILWAUKEE» Steven Brault and four relievers combined on a three-hitter to lift the Pirates to a 7-0 victory over the Brewers on Monday night.

Milwaukee didn’t get a runner past first base against the Pirates and fell 2½ games behind Chicago in the NL Central after outscoring the Cubs 20-3 in a three-game sweep at Wrigley Field over the weekend.

Andrew McCutchen, Starling Marte and Jordy Mercer homered for Pittsburgh, which staggered into the game with a fivegame losing streak.

Brault (1-0), making his second start of the season, only allowed a fourth-inning walk to Ryan Braun and a fifth-inning leadoff single to Jesus Aguilar. He struck out six in six innings for his first majorleague win.

Brault also helped at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a bases loaded, two-RBI single in the sixth to give Pittsburgh a 6-0 lead.

The left-hander was named the most valuable pitcher in the International League after posting a 10-5 record with a 1.94 ERA for Triple-A Indianapolis. But he came into the game with an 0-3 record and 5.19 ERA in 15 appearances over two seasons in the majors.

Milwaukee rookie Brandon Woodruff (1-2), allowed six runs on seven hits and a walk in five innings.

McCutchen hit a two-run homer in the first and Marte hit a two-run homer in the fifth to make it 4-0 against Woodruff. The Brewers intentionally walked Mercer with two outs in the sixth to load the bases, but Brault hit a sharp two-run single to center to make it 6-0.