PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Saturday evening in the first game of a doubleheader at PNC Park, using a two-run home run by Esmerlyn Valdez and a go-ahead single from Bryan Reynolds to secure the victory.

Attendance was 29,080, and the game lasted 2 hours, 46 minutes.

Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth inning, but Pittsburgh answered with two runs of their own in the fourth and then pushed across the decisive run in the sixth.

The Brewers struck first in the top of the fifth. Joey Ortiz led off with a single and advanced to second on a single by Christian Yelich. After Jackson Chourio reached on a fielder’s choice that erased Yelich at second, Brice Turang doubled to center field, scoring Ortiz and Chourio to give Milwaukee a 2-0 lead. Turang’s 23rd double of the season put the Brewers ahead, but they left the bases loaded when Garrett Mitchell grounded out.

The Pirates responded in the bottom of the sixth. Brandon Lowe doubled to center field, and Reynolds followed with a line-drive single to right, plating Lowe to break the tie at 3-2. That run proved to be the difference.

Pittsburgh had tied the game earlier in the fourth. With one out, Reynolds doubled to right, and Valdez followed with a homer to left field, his 10th of the season, scoring Reynolds and making it 2-2.

Milwaukee starter Shane Drohan took the loss, dropping to 4-4. He worked 6 1/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out six. He exited after giving up a leadoff single in the seventh.

Pittsburgh used a parade of relievers after starter Bubba Chandler, who pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts. Chandler left with the game tied. Yohan Ramirez (7-2) picked up the win, tossing a scoreless inning of relief, allowing one hit. Isaac Mattson, Dennis Santana, Brandon Eisert and Mason Montgomery combined for 3 1/3 scoreless frames to close out the game. Montgomery earned his second save of the season, striking out two in a perfect ninth inning.

Drohan was supported by a Milwaukee bullpen that held Pittsburgh scoreless in the seventh and eighth. Abner Uribe pitched a scoreless seventh, allowing one hit. Grant Anderson worked a scoreless eighth.

Milwaukee’s offense managed seven hits, one each from Yelich, Chourio, Turang, Garrett Mitchell, Luis Lara, Ortiz and Andrew Vaughn. Turang’s double accounted for the only extra-base hit and both RBI. The Brewers left nine runners on base.

Pittsburgh also collected seven hits. Valdez’s home run was the only extra-base hit for the Pirates aside from Lowe’s double and Reynolds’ double. Reynolds had two hits, including the go-ahead single, and drove in the winning run.

The game was scoreless through three innings. Milwaukee threatened in the second, putting runners on first and second with one out, but Cooper Pratt grounded into a double play. Pittsburgh had a chance in the third when Rafael Flores Jr. singled with one out, but Jared Triolo and Billy Cook both flied out.

Milwaukee’s best chance to extend the lead came in the sixth, when Ortiz doubled with two outs and Yelich was hit by a pitch. But Chourio popped out in foul territory to end the inning.

The Brewers put the tying run on base in the top of the eighth when Lara singled with one out, but he was stranded. In the ninth, Yelich led off with a walk, but Chourio struck out, Turang flied out and William Contreras was called out on strikes to end the game.

The victory improved the Pirates to 50-47 on the season, while the Brewers fell to 60-38. Pittsburgh had lost five of its previous seven games entering Saturday, while Milwaukee had won nine of its previous 12.

The two teams are scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader later Saturday evening, with the Brewers looking to split the twin bill and the Pirates aiming for a sweep of the day’s action.