Brewers lead alone when Cubs falter

PITTSBURGH -- The Milwaukee Brewers homer like no other team in the majors, and now they’re in first place alone because of it.

Prince Fielder hit his 44th home run and Corey Hart also connected to support Yovani Gallardo’s six shutout innings, helping the Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-1, Tuesday night to move one game ahead of Chicago in the NL Central when the Cubs lost, 5-4, at Houston.

Ryan Braun drove in three runs to help Milwaukee end a four-game losing streak in Pittsburgh.

“This was a big game, for us to win here,” Manager Ned Yost said.

Gallardo (8-4) won his third in a row and fourth in five decisions.

The solo drives by Fielder, who leads the NL, and Hart were Milwaukee’s 202nd and 203rd, the most in the majors. The Reds are the only other team to reach even the 190-homer mark.

Fielder is only two homers away from setting a single-season club record.