Milwaukee, WI -- Kris Benson limited Milwaukee to one run on five hits over 7 2/3 innings to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-2 win over the Brewers at Miller Park.

Benson (3-1), who retired 10 straight in the middle innings of the game, struck out seven and threw just 99 pitches, with 62 of them going for strikes.

"I'm definitely pleased with tonight," Benson said. "My biggest thing is to keep my pitch count low so I can go deep into games. I was able to get in and out of innings pretty quickly tonight and that kept me fresh."

Raul Mondesi went 3-for-4 with three doubles and one run batted in for the Pirates, who won for the second time in the last three games. Mondesi's three doubles were the first since Jack Wilson turned the trick versus Tampa Bay on June 13, 2003.

"I was trying to be more patient at the plate," Mondesi said. "I'm trying to swing at strikes and nothing too far out of the zone. I'm feeling much more comfortable at the plate now than I did earlier in the season."

The victory marked just the fifth for the Pirates in 15 tries against NL Central division opponents this season.

Milwaukee starter Ben Sheets (3-2) was saddled with the loss despite allowing just three runs on seven hits in eight innings of work. Sheets equaled Benson by striking out seven and did not allow a walk.

Junior Spivey and Brady Clark each had an RBI for the Brewers, who had a two- game winning streak snapped.

Pittsburgh scored three runs in the sixth to take a 3-1 lead. Wilson and Jason Kendall led off with singles and Mondesi knocked in the Pirates' first run with his third two-base hit of the game.

Rob Mackowiak followed and drove in Kendall on his ground out, and Craig Wilson capped the rally with a sacrifice fly to deep center, which scored Mondesi from third base.

"That's called good hitting," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "Pittsburgh hit some good pitches that Ben threw. They weren't necessarily bad pitches, but better swings by Kendall, Mondesi and both Wilsons'."

The Pirates tacked on an insurance run in the ninth on Carlos Rivera's RBI single to right field, scoring Abraham Nunez, who doubled earlier in the frame.

Jose Mesa came on in the ninth and earned his seventh save in as many chances this season, despite yielding a run when Clark grounded out to bring home Lyle Overbay.

It was the first run allowed by Mesa all season, after the closer went 8 2/3 scoreless innings in 10 previous appearances.

Pittsburgh improved to 6-4 away from home this season.

Milwaukee plated the game's first run in the third on Spivey's RBI ground out.

Game Notes:

Pittsburgh improved to 23-14 against Milwaukee since the start of the 2002 campaign...The Brewers are 7-5 at home this season...Benson improved to 3-4 in his career versus Milwaukee...Sheets fell to 3-5 against Pittsburgh in his career.