Aug 18, 2002 3 min read

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Brian Meadows hadn’t won a game in more than a year. Some of his Pittsburgh Pirates teammates probably felt as if it had been that long for them, too. Jack Wilson hit a three-run double in the sixth inning and the Pirates beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-0 Saturday night to end a season-worst seven-game losing streak.

“This is as big a win for the team as it is for me,” Meadows said.

Meadows (1-3) allowed four hits in six innings to win for the first time since May 10, 2001, when he beat Cleveland while he was with Kansas City.

Mike Lincoln, Scott Sauerbeck and Brian Boehringer finished the six-hitter.

Pittsburgh won for just the second time in 11 games, handing the Brewers their fourth defeat in five games.

“It’s something we needed,” manager Lloyd McClendon said. “The guys have been playing hard through this. It’s nice to see effort get rewarded.”

Kevin Young got a one-out single in the sixth off Jose Cabrera (5-9). Craig Wilson was hit by a pitch and Adam Hyzdu doubled in the first run.

After an intentional walk to Rob Mackowiak, pinch-hitter Armando Rios popped out. Pokey Reese drew a bases-loaded walk to force in the second run and Wilson cleared the bases with a double to right.

“I wasn’t sure if it was going to fall in or not,” Wilson said. “The way things have been going for me lately, I kind of expected it to be caught. When I saw it fall, I breathed a big sigh of relief.”

Jimmy Osting made his first major league start but was lifted for Cabrera in the fifth with the bases loaded and a 3-1 count on Jason Kendall. Kendall took a strike, then grounded to third to end the inning.

Manager Jerry Royster said he made the change because Osting was at his pitch limit and was starting to struggle with his control. Osting had been on the disabled list with a left shoulder strain and hasn’t thrown much.

“It wasn’t a tough decision,” Royster said. “We had a guy in the bullpen who commands his fastball better than anyone else and we brought him in. He picked him up.”

Royster came away impressed with Osting and disappointed that he didn’t have a better fate.

“He gave up nothing, but we got nothing … for no apparent reason,” he said.

Meadows had bad career statistics against Milwaukee but he handled the Brewers easily.

“It’s been the same story all year,” Royster said. “We have an inconsistent offense. When we’re supposed to do something, we don’t. There’s no reason for us to get six hits and no runs. Absolutely none. I have no answers for that.”

The Brewers were shut out for the second time in three games. They have scored two runs in their last four losses.

NOTES: Milwaukee is 3-14 on the road since the All-Star break. … Meadows was 1-4 with a 6.12 ERA in five career starts against Milwaukee. … The Brewers are 4-14 at PNC Park. … Osting made his first major league appearance since he pitched for San Diego on May 24, 2001. He allowed three hits and walked four in 4 2-3 innings. … Brewers C Jorge Fabregas is hitless in his last 17 at-bats. … LF Brian Giles was out of the Pirates lineup for the first time since April 17. He had made 107 consecutive starts. Giles has a strained right calf but may play Sunday, according to manager Lloyd McClendon. … The shutout was the Pirates’ third in 123 games. … Reese’s hitting streak ended at 10 games.