MILWAUKEE -- Andrew McCutchen, Jody Mercer and Josh Bell each drove in two runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates preserved their faint playoff hopes alive with a 6-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.The Pirates won their fifth straight at Miller Park, and fifth of six overall to improve to .500 (75-75) for the first time since they were 69-69 on Sept. 8. Pittsburgh began the day five games behind San Francisco for the second NL wild card spot and St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins in between the Pirates and Giants.McCutchens two-run double in the first staked rookie left-hander Steven Brault to an early lead. Bells two-run single in the fifth chased starter Matt Garza (5-8). Mercer produced run-scoring singles in the fourth and sixth.Brault was making his seventh career start and had already lost twice to the Brewers. He allowed Domingo Santanas run-scoring double in the third and Martin Maldonados home run in the fourth, and then ran into trouble in the fifth.Jonathan Villar opened the inning with a walk and stole second before advancing to third on Orlando Arcias single to center. Jared Hughes (1-1) took over for Brault and gave up Chris Carter run-scoring double-play grounder and struck out Domingo Santana to end the inning.Tony Watson pitched the ninth for his 14th save in 17 chances.Adam Frazier went 3 for 4 and scored twice for the Pirates.Garza allowed five runs and eight hits over four innings. He walked two and struck out two while slipping to 1/3 in four starts against the Pirates this seasonThe Brewers had won 11 of 17 since the Pirates four-game sweep in Milwaukee at the end of August, with home and away series victories over the NL Central Champion Chicago Cubs.UNDER REVIEWBrewers manager Craig Counsell challenged the out call on a force play at second in the sixth. After a 1:38 review, the call was upheld.FEELING RIGHT AT HOMEMcCutchens two-run double in the first extended his hitting streak to eight games and gave him 48 RBI in 62 career games at Miller Park.GARZA RUNSOpponents have roughed up Garza for 26 runs (16 earned) in his last seven starts. He is 1-4 with a 4.00 ERA over that stretch.NEW BREWERS DADSLF Ryan Braun and C Manny Pina missed the game in order to be with their wives and the newest member of their respective family. Brauns wife, Larisa, gave birth to a son, Greyson Joseph. Pinas wife, Leny, gave birth to a daughter, Jimena. However, Pina pinch hit in the ninth and flied out to end the game. Both players were expected back before the weekend.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: C Chris Stewart underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and is expected to be out six-to-eight weeks. Dr. James Andrews operated on the 34-year-old catcher in Gulf Shores, Florida. ... LF Starling Marte missed his 15th consecutive game with low back discomfort.Brewers: The Brewers selected the contract of C/1B Josmil Pinto from Triple-A Colorado Springs.UP NEXTPirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (4-3, 3.97 ERA) makes his 12th major-league start. The 24-year-old right-hander is 0-0 with a 2.84 ERA in one career outing against the Brewers.Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson (8-14, 4.42) makes his 10th career start against the Pirates. He is 5-2 with a 3.16 ERA in his previous nine starts, including 1-0 with a 4.80 ERA ibn three starts this season.Gleyber Torres Jersey . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. Luke Voit Jersey . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.cheapyankeesjerseyschina.com/didi-gregorius-jersey/ . Luis Suarezs double powered Liverpool to a 4-0 victory over Fulham, and Southampton easily overcame Hull 4-1 to continue the south coast clubs impressive start to the season. Liverpool and Southampton sent Chelsea down to fourth place as the west London club was held to 2-2 at home. Brett Gardner Jersey . Clarke was injured while practicing on the Doha Golf Club range after the pro-am on Tuesday. The Northern Irishman arrived at the course on Wednesday hoping to start, but after hitting a few balls on the practice putting green Clarke advised officials he was not fit to play. Andy Pettitte Jersey . Perez, 35, posted a 1-2 record with a 3.69 earned-run average in 19 relief appearances last season. His season ended Aug. 9 due to a torn ligament in his left elbow. Perez joins infielder Andy LaRoche and catcher Mike Nickeas with minor-league agreements for 2014 that include invitations to attend spring training.QUEBEC CITY -- Defending champion Annika Beck of Germany was upset by Barbora Stefkova 2-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the opening round of the Coupe Banque Nationale on Tuesday, one of four seeded players to fall on the second day of the tournament.Stefkova saved two match points in the second set against the second-seeded Beck and rallied from a break down in the third before closing out the match.The Czech player had fallen in the final round of qualifying but was added to the main draw as a lucky loserr after Bethanie Mattek-Sands withdrew from the tournament.ddddddddddddIn other matches, Canadian wild card Francoise Abanda defeated sixth-seeded Mona Barthel of Germany 7-6 (7), 6-4; Oceane Dodin of France knocked out fifth-seeded Naomi Broady of Britain 2-6, 6-4, 6-4; and Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia beat fourth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany 6-4, 7-6 (1)6-4; Oceane Dodin of France knocke