Garza and Pirates starter Ryan Vogelsong dueled through five scoreless innings before the teams combined for eight runs against five pitchers in the sixth. With two runners aboard on Villar's errors, Starling Marte snapped the scoreless tie with a double before Mercer fouled off consecutive two-strike pitches, then hit a slider into the Brewers bullpen for a 5-0 lead.
The Pirates remained 2 1/2 games behind the Cardinals in the race for the second National League Wild Card.