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Gallardo stars as Brewers win 1-0, sweep Pirates

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Associated Press

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Yovani Gallardo watches his home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, April 29, 2009, in Milwaukee.

MILWAUKEE — Yovani Gallardo struck out a career-high 11, homered in the seventh inning and the Milwaukee Brewers swept the Pittsburgh Pirates — again — with a 1-0 victory Wednesday.

Gallardo (3-1) didn't allow a runner until Andy LaRoche doubled with two outs in the fifth, giving up a total of two hits and a walk in eight innings. Gallardo, who threw his first complete game in a victory at Houston on Friday, has allowed a total of two runs in his past three starts.

Carlos Villanueva pitched the ninth for his second save in five chances.

Milwaukee has won 15 straight over Pittsburgh, a streak that goes back to May 22 of last season. It's the longest winning streak by one team over another since Oakland beat Seattle 15 straight in 2006.

Pittsburgh starter Ian Snell (1-3) was overshadowed by Gallardo but also delivered a dominant outing, holding the Brewers to four hits and no runs through the first six innings.

Gallardo provided his own offense in the seventh, hitting an 0-2 pitch from Snell deep into the left field.

It was Gallardo's second homer of the season and fourth of his career — the most hit by a pitcher for the Brewers, who moved to the National League in 1998.

Gallardo struck out four of his first nine batters. Nyjer Morgan led off the fourth inning with a sharp line drive back toward the mound that Gallardo snagged with his glove.

Gallardo remained perfect into the fifth, striking out Adam LaRoche and Eric Hinske before Andy LaRoche hit a line drive deep to right-center field and beat the throw into second base for a double. Gallardo struck out Ramon Vazquez to end the inning.

Pittsburgh failed to capitalize on a scoring chance in the seventh. Freddy Sanchez reached on a throwing error by J.J. Hardy, and Gallardo walked Hinske to give Pittsburgh runners on first and second with two out. But Gallardo got Andy LaRoche to pop out to Prince Fielder in foul territory to end the inning.

Notes: Brewers backup catcher Mike Rivera saw the team's doctor Wednesday after spraining his left ankle in Tuesday night's game. Brewers manager Ken Macha said X-rays were negative. ... Milwaukee's Chris Duffy doubled in the fifth, his first hit of the season. ... With a day off Thursday, the Pirates finished April with a winning record for the first time since 2002.