MILWAUKEE -- Oh, how quickly things can change.
Through 3 2/3 innings Saturday, Wily Peralta was cruising through Pittsburgh's lineup and holding a 2-0 lead. Less than 20 minutes later, the Milwaukee Brewers were trailing 8-2 and well on their way to a second consecutive ugly loss.
The Brewers have dropped three consecutive games by four or more runs for the first time all season, the latest a 10-2 drubbing at the hands of the Pirates in front of 40,557 at Miller Park.
Just two days ago, Pittsburgh was playing its way out of playoff contention. Instead of burying the Pirates, the Brewers have let their division rivals right back in the race and are in danger of losing their grip on first place.
"I'm surprised that we played two games like this against anybody," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. "When you don't play good baseball, it doesn't matter if it's Pittsburgh or anybody, these guys are a good team.
"What bothers me is not playing good baseball. I say it a lot: it doesn't matter who it is or who it's against, you don't ever want to play this kind of ball. (Friday) was worse than today but there are too many things we're not doing right that we know we need to do (right) continuing on."
Like the series opener, Milwaukee struck first and took a 2-0 lead into the fourth inning. Scooter Gennett blasted a solo home run off Edinson Volquez in the second and Khris Davis added an RBI double in the third.
The Brewers could have easily broken the game early, only adding to the frustration of the loss. Milwaukee stranded nine runners on base in the first five innings Saturday, including seven in scoring position.
After Gennett's homer in the third, the Brewers had runners at second and third with nobody out but failed to score again as Elian Herrera flew out to shallow center, Peralta struck out and Carlos Gomez grounded out.
Three consecutive two-out hits in the third produced Milwaukee's second run, but Lyle Overbay failed to capitalize on a chance to extend the lead by flying out to center to end the inning with two runners in scoring position.
"We definitely had our chances," Roenicke said. "Our big boys were up when we needed them up but they got the big hits when we didn't. We had chances.
"It's not worrisome, it's baseball. You just don't want to do it for a prolonged period. In games that we need to score runs because the other team is scoring runs, you have to come through with those hits if you want to win games. They outplayed us. That's all there is to it."
Peralta quickly got two outs in the top of the fourth, retiring Travis Snider and Andrew McCutchen before a two-out walk to Neil Walker extended the inning. After a Russell Martin double, Pedro Alvarez connected on a long three-run homer to put the Pirates up 3-2.
"When you get the lead, I wasn't able to maintain it, and you know, this is an important series for us," Peralta said. "If I get the lead early, I'm supposed to be the stopper right then, trying to give the team a chance to win."
The Brewers appeared to be ready to answer back in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases for Ryan Braun with one out. Volquez jammed Braun on an 0-2 pitch for an infield pop out, while Aramis Ramirez struck out to end the threat.
Those were the last meaningful at-bats the Brewers took Saturday, as Pittsburgh stunned the near sellout crowd with a five-run fifth.
Just as the Pirates' big inning Friday was started by poor defense, an error by Gennett and Ramirez's inability to corral an infield single opened the door for the five spot put on the board.
Following an RBI bloop double by Walker, Martin hit a missile into the Brewers' bullpen for a three-run home run. Three pitches later, Alvarez hit his second big fly of the night to make it 8-2 Pirates.
Alvarez entered hitting .190 with four RBI and homerless since the All-Star break and finished 2 for 2 with two home runs and four RBI on Saturday.
Carrying a 1.59 ERA over his last seven starts, Peralta lasted just five innings and was charged with eight runs, seven earned on seven hits. The young right-hander allowed three home runs for the first time in his career and served up more than one long ball for just the third time all season.
Momentum in baseball begins with the man on the mound, and the Brewers have received two consecutive rough starts after the starting staff seemed on cruise control over the last month.
The defense surely didn't help, but Yovani Gallardo and Wily Peralta were unable to hold the lead and pitch around sloppy play behind them. Now the Pirates suddenly have new life and the Brewers are searching for a win Sunday to salvage the homestand before heading out on a nine-game road trip.
"We got beat. That's it," Gomez said. "The last two games we didn't play well. They did and they take the W and go home happy. We have to move forward. Tomorrow is another day and we have to come strong."
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