Brewers drop series finale in Pittsburgh 5-3

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Francisco Liriano took another step toward putting his season-long control issues behind him, striking out 13 to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday night.

Liriano (6-9) gave up three runs and four hits in 6 2/3 innings and didn't issue a walk for just the second time in 19 starts. The left-hander entered the game having issued a major-league high 62 base on balls this season.

Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his 28th save.

Matt Joyce hit a three-run homer off Matt Garza (1-4) in the first inning and finished with four RBIs after being a last-second substitution in the outfield when Starling Marte was diagnosed with flu-like symptoms shortly before the first pitch.

Gregory Polanco finished with two hits for the Pirates. Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 3 to snap out of a 1-for-16 funk.

Jonathan Villar hit his seventh home run of the season for the Brewers. Hernan Perez added two hits for Milwaukee, which fell to 17-31 away from Miller Park, the second-worst road mark in the National League. Garza dropped his fourth straight decision, allowing five runs, four earned, in five innings with two walks and three strikeouts.