PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen figured if he kept hitting the ball hard that something good would eventually happen.

After flying out to the warning track twice earlier in the game, McCutchen homered leading off the bottom of the 12th inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.

McCutchen hit a 2-2 pitch from Mike Fiers (0-2) into the right-center field stands for his fifth home run of the season and the fourth game-ending shot of his career.

McCutchen sprinted out of the box upon contact and quickly made his way around the bases, raising his right fist in the air between first and second base.

“After the other two balls I hit, I wasn’t taking anything for granted,” he said. “I didn’t know if it was going to go out or not when I hit it, so I just started running.”

McCutchen hit a drive to deep center field in the first inning with two runners on base that center fielder Carlos Gomez caught just in front of the fence. In the seventh, right fielder Norichika Aoki hauled in McCutchen’s drive to the 375-foot sign in right-center field.

“I thought both of them were gone but I guess it’s the cool weather keeping the balls in the park,” McCutchen said. “It’s been a cool spring and the ball doesn’t seem to be carrying anywhere. Summer is just around the corner so hopefully the weather will warm up and balls will start flying pretty soon.”

Pittsburgh’s Jose Tabata had three hits, Russell Martin hit two doubles and Neil Walker had two hits.

Vin Mazzaro (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings to help the Pirates beat the Brewers for the just the second time in their last 12 meetings. Milwaukee had won five straight games at PNC Park.

“Everyone knows the success the Brewers have had against us, it’s like they have a horseshoe (in their back pocket) every time they play us,” McCutchen said.