PITTSBURGH -- Russell Martin has played long enough to realize that games in early June are rarely pivotal. Yet the Pirates veteran catcher admitted that Friday nights win felt good as Pittsburgh tries to stay with striking distance of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central. Martin had three hits, including a three-run double during an eight-run sixth inning, and the Pirates rolled to a 15-5 victory over the Brewers, handing nemesis Kyle Lohse his first loss since April 1. The Pirates still trail the Brewers by six games, primarily because they have gone 3-8 against Milwaukee this season. The win was Pittsburghs sixth in its last eight games. "Anytime in the season where you can just feed off each other like that, its going to be a fun time," Martin said. "Especially against a team that were trailing right now. If you can beat up on a good team, it definitely does give you confidence." Martins double keyed an inning that increased Pittsburghs lead to 13-3 and included Jose Tabata hitting two RBI singles and reliever Tyler Thornburg issuing two bases-loaded walks. The Pirates sent 13 batters to the plate. "We were able to barrel some balls and we took some walks," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "The hits were nice, the walks were kind of runaway walks. Not many pitches were close in the walk sequence, it is what it is." Lohse (7-2) had won seven consecutive decisions, the longest active streak in the major leagues, but was tagged for eight runs and nine hits in five-plus innings. He had won his last six decisions against the Pirates, dating to 2011, and pitched a three-hit shutout against the Chicago Cubs five days earlier. "I could go inning by inning about everything that went wrong but it was just one of those games where they hit good pitches and they hit bad pitches," Lohse said. "The best thing to do is forget about it and get ready for the next one. Thats the approach I took after I threw the shutout and thats the approach this time." Rookie Brandon Cumpton (1-2) allowed three runs in 5 1-3 innings after giving up 11 runs -- the most by a major league pitcher this season -- in 3 2-3 innings in losing his previous start at the Los Angeles Dodgers last Saturday. "I really just put my head down and got back to work after that last start," Cumpton said. "I was just trusting my stuff and know its going to be there. It was great to get out there and get back on the horse." Andrew McCutchen homered and doubled for the Pirates while Jordy Mercer homered and hit an RBI single. Carlos Gomez, Aramis Ramirez and Scooter Gennett all had two hits for the Brewers. McCutchen doubled in a run and scored on Martins single in the first inning as the Pirates jumped on Lohse early. McCutchens seventh homer, a solo shot in the third, made it 3-0. NOTES: Pittsburgh LF Starling Marte, who is hitless in his last 20 at-bats, did not start for a third straight game. Tabata took his place for a second straight game. ... Milwaukee LHP Tom Gorzelanny, who is rehabbing from off-season shoulder surgery, pitched 2 1-3 scoreless innings for Triple-A Nashville on Friday night against Memphis in a PCL game. Though he has allowed two runs in 14 innings in nine games, Gorzelanny likely wont be ready to be activated from the DL when his 30-day rehab assignment ends next Friday. ... Pirates RHP Stolmy Pimentel, who is on the DL with right shoulder inflammation, pitched three scoreless innings in a rehab start for Double-A Altoona against Trenton in the Eastern League. ... RHP Vin Mazzaro accepted an outright assignment by Pittsburgh to Triple-A Indianapolis after clearing waivers. He was designated for assignment May 26. ... Brewers RHP Matt Garza (3-4, 4.42) faces RHP Edinson Volquez (3-4, 4.25) on Saturday. Nick Solak Jersey . The club says its first-choice centre back "underwent medical tests on Wednesday morning" which confirmed he has injured his right hamstring. The injury was caused in the second minute of Tuesdays 4-1 league win over Real Sociedad in the Camp Nou when teammate Sergio Busquets accidentally struck Mascherano just above the knee with an outstretched boot. Texas Rangers Pro Shop . The two-time Olympic halfpipe gold medallist informed ESPN on Monday he plans to compete in Apsen, Colo. https://www.cheaprangersbaseball.com/642...ey-rangers.html. Its a blessing and a burden for nine sons of former NHL players who are all expected to be taken in the first four rounds of the draft this weekend. Nolan Ryan Rangers Jersey . Coach Randy Carlyle didnt know the severity of Bozaks injury. Bozak left the bench and went down the tunnel early in the second period, returned to play a handful of shifts and then did play in the third. Yohander Mendez Jersey . The roster changes have been constant and continuous since late last year, but even with their 46-man roster set for the start of the season, the banged-up Bombers will be kicking off Week 1 with a handful of fresh faces and back-ups in the starting lineup.New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) - International Star used his season debut to explode onto the Kentucky Derby trail with a victory in Saturdays 71st running of the $200,000 Lecomte Stakes at Fair Grounds. The Lecomte is the first of the major 3-year-old stakes at Fair Grounds leading to the $750,000 Louisiana Derby on Mar. 28. Coming up on Feb. 21 is the Risen Star Stakes. International Star, ridden by Miguel Mena from the rail post, was 9-1 in the 11-horse field going a mile, 70 yards. Trained by Mike Maker, the colt settled along the inside until moving outside entering the stretch. Owned by Ken and Sarah Ramsey, International Star moved to the lead inside the furlong pole and drove through the stretch for a 2 1/2-length victory over War Story. Tiznow R J was third followed by Another Lemon Drop, Savoy Stomp, Hero of Humor, 3-1 favorite Eagle, Dekabrist, Runhappy, Killingit and Four Leaf Chief.dddddddddddd The time for the Lecomte was 1:43.62 on a fast track. International Star, a son of 2000 Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, claimed $120,000 with the win. The colt has won three of seven starts for $320,979. The Ramseys and Maker combined to win last years Lecomte with Vicars in Trouble. The 3-year-old won the Grey Stakes at Woodbine last October and earlier recorded seconds in Belmonts Rockville Center Stakes and Saratogas With Anticipation on the turf. International Star was ninth, just 3 1/4 lengths off the winner, in the Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 31. International Star returned $20.40, $8.80 and $5.20. War Story paid $7.20 and $4.60, and Tiznow R J paid $4.20 to show. ' ' '