Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez (24) takes the throw from shortstop Jordy Mercer after a force out at second and then tags out Milwaukee's Jonathan Lucroy for the second out for a double play in the ninth inning Tuesday night at PNC Park. The Pirates suffered a 7-6 loss.

PITTSBURGH — Jeff Locke's All-Star season is turning into a nightmare.

Locke's winless streak reached seven starts as Aramis Ramirez had three hits, including his 350th career home run, and drove in four runs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers over the Pirates 7-6 on Tuesday night.

Locke didn't factor in the decision, but helped put the Pirates in a 5-0 hole by giving up five runs and eight hits in 4 2-3 innings. He is 0-2 with a 7.02 ERA in his last seven starts after beginning the season 9-2.

The last three starts have been particularly rough with Locke allowing 16 runs and 23 hits in 11 1-3 innings.

“I continue my work during the week like I have all season,” Locke said. “Mentally, it becomes kind of a challenge at times. I always try to take the good and move on. I'm 25 years old and I know all the struggles I go through now will make me better down the road.”

Locke said the rest of the Pirates' starting pitchers are helping him keep his spirits up.

“I've got a lot of confidence building from my teammates,” he said. “Charlie (Morton) has been through some tough times. A.J. (Burnett) has been doing this long enough to know not every day can be Thanksgiving. It can be frustrating, but I haven't lost a lot of sleep over it.”

Pittsburgh lost its third straight game and dropped 1½ games behind St. Louis in the NL Central after the Cardinals beat Cincinnati 6-1 on Tuesday night.

The Brewers won their third in four games. Rookie pinch-hitter Caleb Gindl drove in the winning run with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.

With the game tied 6-6, Rafael Betancourt hit a one-out double off Bryan Morris (5-7) and took third on Scooter Gennett's single. Gindl then lifted a fly to right that scored Betancourt.

Pedro Alvarez went 4-for-4 with a walk, and hit his NL-leading 32nd home run for the Pirates. Neil Walker had a three-run homer among his two hits. Andrew McCutchen, Andrew Lambo and Felix Pie also had two hits.

Milwaukee's Norichka Aoki reached base in all five plate appearances, with two singles and three walks. Jonathan Lucroy added three hits, and Gennett had two.

With the Pirates down by a run, McCutchen doubled, and Alvarez walked with one out in the ninth, but Jim Henderson held on for his 22nd save in 25 opportunities.

Rob Wooten (3-0) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win.

“It was a strange game. Real strange,” Walker said. “Back and forth, back and forth. But it was no different than what we've played all year. “