PITTSBURGH (AP) — Josh Bell tied a career with four hits, Gregory Polanco homered and both drove in two runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night.
The fourth-place Pirates have won five of their last six. First-place Milwaukee has lost four of five and its lead has been cut to a half-game over the Chicago Cubs.
Nick Kingham (4-4) tied a career high with nine strikeouts and allowed three runs over 6 1/3 innings. Kyle Crick got four outs for his second save of the season.
Milwaukee starter Junior Guerra (6-6) yielded six runs, nine hits and two walks in four innings. He struck out four.
Brewers reliever Brandon Woodruff, recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs, pitched three innings of one-hit relief and hit his first career home run.
Woodruff played at Mississippi State and Wheeler High School.