Milwaukee's Chris Carter gets high-fives in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Pirates Thursday night. The Bucs' 3-1 loss likely took them ouit of the wild-card hunt.

MILWAUKEE — Starling Marte’s return didn’t last long. The Pittsburgh Pirates’ stay in the NL wild-card race may not last too much longer.

Chris Carter hit his 37th home run, matching his career high, and Scooter Gennett sliced an opposite-field, two-run homer to help the Brewers avoid another sweep at Miller Park by the Pirates with a 3-1 win Thursday night.

Chase Anderson (9-11) allowed four hits in 5 2/3 innings, including a fifth-inning home run by Francisco Cervelli, his first since last Sept. 30.

Marte grabbed his lower back after fouling off a pitch in the third and left the game with what the team called back tightness. He had singled in the first inning after missing 16 consecutive games.

“If you saw the game, you saw the swings in the middle of the at-bat,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said in describing Marte’s two plate appearances. Those swings just aren’t going to play.”

Pittsburgh trails the Mets and Giants by 4 1/2 games for the NL wild-card spots.

“Minimal opportunities tonight,” Hurdle said. “We hit some balls hard, much like they did last night. We hit some hard, and they were in front of them.”

Pittsburgh had won six straight at Milwaukee.

Anderson improved to 3-1 in five starts this season against the Pirates.

Gennett homered to left field in the first against Ryan Vogelsong (3-6), who gave up two hits in four innings, struck out seven and walked two

McCutchen has hit safely in 11 straight games against the Brewers and is batting .404 (19 for 47) with five runs, four doubles, eight RBIs and three walks in that span.