Brewers drop 2½ games behind Cubs with 3-1 loss to Pirates

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Zach Davies failed to hold an early lead and gave up a go-ahead double to Francisco Cervelli in the fourth inning that lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 on Saturday night.

Milwaukee lost for just the fourth time in 15 games and dropped 2½ games behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs. The Brewers’ lead for the NL’s top wild card was cut to three games over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Christian Yelich reached 30 homers for the first time when he connected in the first off Ivan Nova (9-9).

Colin Moran hit a tying homer in the second. Pittsburgh scored its final run in the sixth when Starling Marte doubled and came around when Josh Bell stole his first base since June 22 last year, and catcher Erik Kratz’s throwing bounced into center field for an error.

Cervelli was at the plate at the time, and he reacted angrily to a called third strike by plate umpire Tripp Gibson. Both Cervelli and Pirates manager Clint Hurdle were ejected. Hurdle ran out of the dugout to separate Cervelli and Gibson, and crew chief Brian Gorman kept Hurdle away from Gibson as Cervelli finally left the field.

Davies (2-6), who had two stints on the disabled list this season caused by right rotator cuff inflammation, made his third start since his latest return to the majors and allowed two runs, three hits and a walk in five innings.

Nova gave up one run and four hits in six innings. He retired 17 of the next 20 batters after Yelich’s homer.

Rookie Richard Rodriguez pitched the seventh, Kyle Crick followed in the eighth and Felipe Vasquez allowed a pair of singles in the ninth before retiring Mike Moustakas on a lineout and Domingo Santana on a flyout, and then striking out Jonathan Schoop. Vazquez has 33 saves in 37 chances, including the longest active streak in the major leagues at 23.

Yelich has reached in 30 consecutive games, the longest current streak in the NL.