Brewers 1, Pirates 0: Pinch hitter Logan Schafer delivered a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning as Milwaukee grabbed a critical road win over Pittsburgh.

Elian Herrera reached on a fielder’s choice after Ryan Braun singled to open the ninth and Lyle Overbay grounded a one-out double to right before Mark Melancon (3-5) intentionally walked pinch hitter Matt Clark. Three pitches later, Schafer lifted a flyball to left to plate Herrera.

Zach Duke (5-1) threw one pitch and left the bases loaded in the eighth to get the decision while Francisco Rodriguez needed only six pitches during a perfect ninth for his 43rd save as Milwaukee closed within 3 ½ games of Pittsburgh for the second wild card in the National League with seven games to play. Andrew McCutchen reached base four times without the benefit of a hit for the Pirates, drawing a pair of walks and two hit-by-pitches.

Edinson Volquez stranded a runner in scoring position in each of his first three innings while Milwaukee starter Matt Garza left a runner on third in two of his first four frames before he was ejected with two outs in the fifth after hitting McCutchen with a pitch for the second time in as many plate appearances. McCutchen was thrown out on a steal attempt two pitches later, ending a four-inning run in which Pittsburgh left a man on base.

The Pirates mounted their best offensive threat in the eighth when pinch hitter Brent Morel reached on an infield single and McCutchen walked before Neil Walker’s groundout moved both runners into scoring position. Russell Martin was intentionally walked and Starling Marte lined out for the second out of the inning, before Duke relieved Brandon Kintzler and retired Gaby Sanchez on a fielder’s choice groundout.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Both benches were warned after Volquez threw inside to Braun in the top of the fourth and Garza was tossed after his 1-2 fastball struck McCutchen on his left elbow. Trainers came out to check on McCutchen and the four-time All-Star remained in the game. … Martin doubled in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games. … Volquez allowed three hits and three walks in seven frames while Garza struck out six and yielded three hits.