Braun slams 2 HRs, Brewers top Pirates 8-4

PITTSBURGH — Ryan Braun hit two long two-run home runs and Jimmy Nelson took a shutout into the seventh inning as the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-4 on Friday night.

Braun had a 460-foot shot off the batter's eye in center field off Kyle Lobstein in the sixth to put the Brewers ahead 5-0. After the Pirates drew within a run, Braun hit a 415-foot shot to dead center in the eighth off Neftali Feliz for his third of the season to make it 7-4.

It was Braun's 23rd career multi-homer game.

Pinch-hitter Matt Joyce hit a three-run homer, his first, to chase Nelson (2-1) with none out in the seventh. The Pirates cut the gap to 5-4 later in the inning on back-to-back doubles by David Freese and Starling Marte with two outs.

Jeff Locke (0-1) gave up three runs, five hits and walked seven in 4 2/3 innings.