MILWAUKEE -- The Pittsburgh Pirates had timely hitting, but a key double play helped even more.Andrew McCutchen, Jody Mercer and Josh Bell each drove in two runs and the Pirates preserved their faint playoff hopes 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. Then, Bells two-run single in the top of fifth chased starter Matt Garza (5-8).Staked to a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth, Brault walked Jonathan Villar who stole second and moved to third on Orlando Arcias single to center. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle made a move to his bullpen and brought in Jared Hughes (1-1) to face Chris Carter.It is first and third with nobody out in the fifth, Hurdle said. Where we are in the season right now, I felt (Brault) gave us (enough.) It is a sticky situation.Carter lined Hughes first pitch at third baseman Jung Ho Kang, who fielded the ball cleanly and turned it into a double play that deflated the rally. Hughes struck out Domingo Santana to end the threat.We ended up scoring a run, but thats two outs right there on one pitch, Carter said. He ended up (retiring) the next guy. That kind of changed the momentum right there.Brewers manager Craig Counsell was even more emphatic.That was a big play, he said. We had guys on first and second and got to their bullpen. Chris hit a ball hard, and he made a nice play. That certainly was the play of the game, for sure.The Brewers went quietly the rest of the way against the Pirates bullpen.You want guys who can come in and have some experience and take care of it from there, Hurdle said.And thats exactly what happened.Wade LeBlanc pitched the sixth which ended on another double play. Juan Nicasio set the side down in order in the seventh. Antonio Bastardo struck out two in the eighth and Tony Watson tossed a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 17 chances.Brault was making his seventh career start and had already lost twice to the Brewers. He allowed Santanas run-scoring double in the third and Martin Maldonados home run in the fourth. Brault scattered five hits, struck out four, walked two and was three outs from his first major-league win.Even though I couldnt go the five and get the win, I kept my team in it, Brault said. We got the win. We are making a playoff push, that is all that really matters right now.Mercer produced run-scoring singles in the fourth and sixth.Adam Frazier went 3 for 4, scored twice and extended his streak of reaching base safely to 10 straight games 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.NICASIO SETS A FRANCHISE RECORDRHP Juan Nicasio has recorded at least one strikeout in 30 straight appearances, a single-season club record for a Pirates relief pitcher. According to Elias, its the longest such streak in the majors this season and ties Cody Allens record with Cleveland in 2015.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 were out of the lineup in order to be with their wives and the newest member of his 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. Adidas Ozweego Suomi . He just needed to be his best twisting, turning acrobatic self. "I didnt need to be anybody else, I just needed to be myself and be aggressive," said Burks, who scored a career-high 34 points to spark the Utah Jazz to a 118-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets on Monday night. Adidas NMD Tarjous .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. http://www.nmdhalvalla.com/adidas-prophere-halvalla.html . The Cincinnati Reds remain perfect with their speedy rookie outfielder in the starting lineup. Adidas NMD Human Race Suomi .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Adidas NMD XR1 Suomi . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. NEW YORK -- Brian Dozier had just struck out on three pitches against Jerry Blevins, ending the 95th defeat in a Twins season that could become the franchises worst since it arrived in Minnesota more than six decades ago.Losses approaching a hundred, Dozier said. Thats not good.Gabriel Ynoa struck out eight over 4 2/3 innings in his first major league start, Blevins got a four-out save and the New York Mets completed a three-game sweep with a 3-2 victory Sunday.A big league-worst 55-95, Minnesota was swept in a series for the 14th time this season and has lost seven straight games against the Mets. The franchises poorest record since moving to Minnesota for the 1961 season was 60-102 in 1982. This years losses could be the most for the team since the 1949 Washington Senators went 50-104.Were just trying to play the best we can as hard as we can until the last out is made in a couple of weeks, manager Paul Molitor said. Were a little bit beat up. Were having to run some people out there. We dont have the great depth that we maybe like to have in September, but thats just kind of where we are.Michael Conforto drove in two runs with a first-inning, opposite-field single to left off Kyle Gibson (6-10), and rookie T.J. Rivera added a solo home run in the third. Gibson gave up three runs and seven hits in five-plus innings.It was frustrating to put our team in that kind of hole there in the first inning against a contending team, Gibson said.All the losses have left the Twins battling to keep a positive approach.I think theres been times when weve gotten pretty down on ourselves and allowed it to affect us, Gibson said. I think thats when you see the 10- and 12-game losing stretches, and there were 15 games where we were not playing too well.Ynoa breezed through the Twins, except inn the second.dddddddddddd Minnesota loaded the bases with one out, John Ryan Murphy hit a sacrifice fly and Gibson grounded out.Mets manager Terry Collins replaced Ynoa with Josh Edgin after Dozier singled with two outs in the fifth, extending his hitting streak to a career-high 22 games. The Twins loaded the bases with two outs before Erik Goeddel (2-1) struck out Kennys Vargas.Vargas homered in the eighth against Fernando Salas, a drive off the Wise billboard above the bullpens, and Blevins retired pinch-hitter Eduardo Escobar on a popup to strand Robbie Grossman at third in the eighth.Blevins struck out Murphy starting the ninth, then got pinch-hitter Joe Mauer to pop out. After a mound visit by pitching coach Dan Warthen, Blevins threw a pair of called strikes to Dozier and got him to swing over a curveball in the dirt.Grossman tied his career high for hits with four singles, but it wasnt enough.I think at the end of the day, you look up and were the worst team in baseball, Dozier said. Thats no good.TRAINERS ROOMTwins: LF Eddie Rosario didnt play after hurting his left thumb while diving into first base Saturday. Molitor said an X-ray was not conclusive due to swelling, and an additional scan will take place Monday, after the team returns home. ... C Kurt Suzuki was rested defensively for the second straight day after taking a foul off the mask Friday, two days after a foul caused a cut that needed five stitches. He pinch hit and struck out.UP NEXTTwins: LHP Hector Santiago (12-8) is to start Tuesdays series opener against visiting Detroit after Minnesota decided to skip RHP Tyler Duffey. Santiago is 2-0 in his last four starts with a 1.80 ERA. ' ' '