PITTSBURGH -- Zach Davies relies on command to be successful. He didn't have it on Saturday.
Davies walked five batters and gave up six hits and six runs in 3 2/3 innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 10-2.
"He just wasn't crisp with his command tonight," manager Craig Counsell said. "Without it he just fell behind counts."
The Brewers (62-80) lost for the fifth time in seven games and assured themselves a third straight season with at least 80 losses.
Davies worked around walks in the first and second innings when he stranded a runner in scoring position to end each inning. He didn't get away with his command issues any further when the Pirates scored five runs in the third.
Gregory Polanco worked a leadoff walk before the Pirates rapped out three straight hits to go up 2-0 on Andrew McCutchen's RBI single and Aramis Ramirez's RBI double. Davies walked Neil Walker to set up Francisco Cervelli's two-run single.
"Walks are killers," Davies said. "You've got to make them earn their way on. There's certain times where walks are good, but four or five walks, whatever it was, was too many."
Ramirez hit another RBI double in the fourth to chase Davies (1-1), who lost for the first time in his career. The lesson for the 22-year-old after Saturday's start focused on the importance of getting ahead of hitters, even without his fastball command.
"It makes the hitters have to hit in pitcher's counts," Davies said. "Even when your stuff isn't the best, it's still difficult when they're behind."
Jeff Locke pitched one-run ball into the seventh inning and Michael Morse hit a pinch-hit grand slam to secure the Pirates' win. Pittsburgh drew within 2 1/2 games of first-place St. Louis, the closest the Pirates have been since they were two games back at the All-Star break.
Locke (8-10) allowed three hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked two after losing consecutive starts and four of his last five decisions.
"Jeff pitched extremely well from the start until he left," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He stayed out of the middle of the plate. It was a very good outing."
Milwaukee forced Locke out in the seventh by loading the bases with one out, but managed only one run as reliever Jared Hughes preserved Locke's quality outing. The Brewers mustered another run in the eighth but the offense didn't have enough to overcome Locke and the Pirates.
"It's a night you get down six runs early and there's not much happening," Counsell said.
Morse's slam came off Cesar Jimenez in the seventh and extended the Pirates' lead to 10-1. It was Morse's first homer since the Pirates acquired him July 31 from the Los Angeles Dodgers and the fifth slam of his 11-year career.
Josh Harrison tied a career high for hits as he went 4 for 4 with a walk while filling in for ailing left fielder Starling Marte. It was the ninth four-hit game of Harrison's five-year career.
Locke pitched into the seventh for just the second time in his last 10 starts. The left-hander also lowered his home ERA to 3.46 in 88 1/3 innings, compared to 5.89 on the road in 68 innings. Pirates starters have a 1.64 ERA in the last nine games.
Brewers: C Jonathan Lucroy (concussion) missed his fourth straight game and remains listed as day to day after being examined by concussion expert Mickey Collins on Saturday morning at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Pirates: Marte (gastroenteritis) was a late scratch after not starting Friday night's game because of discomfort in his left shoulder.
Brewers: Rookie RHP Tyler Jungmann (9-6, 2.87 ERA) goes to the mound in the finale of the four-game series Sunday and has won all three of his starts against the Pirates with a 1.35 ERA.
Pirates: LHP Francisco Liriano (10-7, 3.28) is 6-1 in his last 12 starts.
