Alex Presley watches his RBI single on Monday during the second inning of a 9-8 victory over the Brewers.

MILWAUKEE — Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle was tired of losing in Milwaukee, and he had only seen the Pirates struggle there this season.

Alex Presley homered to lead off the game and drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, lifting the Pirates to a 9-8 victory over the Brewers on Monday night to snap a 12-game skid at Miller Park.

“It’s been a long time for some people. Honestly, it’s been the entire year for myself for the first time to come in here,” Hurdle said. “The long journey starts with the first step. So, we took a first step tonight.”

Hurdle got several strong performances. Presley finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs and closer Joel Hanrahan held on for his 40th save to give Pittsburgh its fourth win in 40 tries over the last five years at Miller Park.

“It definitely feels good. That’s a pretty big number,” Hanrahan said of his save total. “There’s only a handful of guys that are there this year. It just goes to show the team’s been giving me a lot of chances. It’s been a team effort all the way.”

Pedro Alvarez drove in three runs for Pittsburgh, which was tied for the NL Central lead on July 25 with Milwaukee in third place. The next day, the Brewers began a streak of 27 wins in 32 games to take control of the race. They clinched their first division title in 29 years on Friday night.

The Pirates fell under .500 with a 1-12 stretch and have long since guaranteed a 19th straight losing season.

Presley’s two-out double off Takashi Saito (4-2) gave Pittsburgh a 9-8 lead in the seventh and the Pirates’ shaky bullpen managed to hold on when Jason Grilli loaded the bases with one out in eighth and Hanrahan allowed the tying run to reach third with no out in the ninth.

Craig Counsell led off the ninth with a single and Hanrahan threw two wild pitches that moved pinch-runner Carlos Gomez to third.

But Hanrahan struck out Corey Hart and pinch-hitter Casey McGehee grounded hard to second baseman Neil Walker, who threw out Gomez at the plate. Pinch-hitter George Kottaras grounded out to end it.

“Joel found a way to get it done,” Hurdle said. “It wasn’t textbook by any means.”