Pirates Win 8th Straight On Road, Sweep Brewers 3-1

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Ivan Nova threw six sharp innings before leaving early because of a hurting left hamstring and the Pittsburgh Pirates hit three solo homers to rally past the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 on Sunday for their eighth straight road victory.

John Jaso and Gregory Polanco each homered in the sixth off Brewers starter Chase Anderson (7-11) to complete Pittsburgh's first sweep at Miller Park since 2004. Starling Marte added a solo shot in the eighth.

Nova (4-0) retired 10 of his final 11 batters after allowing Jonathan Villar's solo homer in the third. He scattered three hits and struck out four before being pinch hit for in the seventh.

Tony Watson pitched a clean ninth for his 10th save in 13 opportunities.

Nova is pitching like a staff ace so far in Pittsburgh before he hits free agency this winter. He's struck out 22 and walked just four in 31 1-3 innings with a 2.87 ERA over his first five starts since being acquired at the trade deadline from the Yankees.

But the road gets much tougher for the Pirates beginning Monday even before Nova left as a precaution.

Ace Gerrit Cole will not start Monday against the Cubs in Chicago, instead heading to Los Angeles to get an outside opinion on his ailing right elbow and missing at least one scheduled start.

Anderson again failed to get out of the sixth inning for Milwaukee - for the 11th time in his last 12 starts.

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He worked his way out of a bases loaded jam with one out in the fourth, but grooved a pair of pitches in the sixth and was pulled after Polanco's shot put Pittsburgh ahead for good.

PIRATES MOVE

Pirates 3B Adam Frazier was optioned to Single-A Bristol before the game and RHP A.J. Schugel was recalled. Frazier started at third base in Saturday's 9-6 win.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Pirates: With Cole out, manager Clint Hurdle says his rotation plan in Chicago will be Steven Brault on Monday followed by Chad Kuhl and Ryan Vogelsong.

Brewers: Brewers RHP Junior Guerra (right elbow) is expected to return to the rotation at some point after Thursday's day off. He threw 3 1-3 scoreless innings in his previous rehab start at Triple-A Colorado Springs.

UP NEXT

Pirates: Brault (0-1, 3.60 ERA) will be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. The left-hander will make his third career start.

Brewers: Zach Davies (10-6, 4.06) takes the hill in the opener of a series against St. Louis.

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