Brewers 4, Pirates 1: Kyle Lohse struck out nine and came within an out of a complete game as host Milwaukee won its ninth straight game to continue its best start in 27 years.

Lohse (2-1) allowed one run and four hits without walking a batter before leaving after surrendering a two-out single in the ninth and Will Smith recorded the final out for his first save. Carlos Gomez and Aramis Ramirez each drove in a run and the Brewers scored two more on a throwing error in the sixth inning.

Pittsburgh starter Charlie Morton (0-1), who beat the Brewers twice within a week late last summer, allowed four runs (two earned) and six hits in seven innings. Andrew McCutchen drove in the lone run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.

The teams traded sacrifice flies before the Brewers moved ahead 2-1 in the fourth when Ryan Braun led off with a double and Ramirez followed with an RBI single to left. Lohse retired the first nine batters, gave up leadoff singles in the fourth and fifth innings with minimal damage before settling into a groove and retiring 14 in a row, including five consecutive strikeouts in the seventh and eighth innings.

Morton got the first out in the sixth but then walked Ramirez, and Lyle Overbay followed with a double to deep left, putting runners on second and third. Scooter Gennett then struck out swinging, but the ball got away from Tony Sanchez behind the plate and he made a throwing error to first base, allowing Ramirez and Overbay to score for a 4-1 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Brewers have allowed 78 hits over 110 innings this season and have yet to allow double-digit hits in a game. … Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez, who came in leading the NL in home runs during day games since the start of the 2012 season with 33, went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts. … Pittsburgh RF Jose Tabata, who came in 13-for-26 in his career off Lohse with two doubles and a home run, went 1-for-4 off the veteran right-hander.