MILWAUKEE — The Pittsburgh Pirates can’t figure out the woeful Milwaukee Brewers.

The Pirates hoped to gain ground in the Central Division title chase upon arriving in Milwaukee. Instead, they were swept in the series and have now lost six straight to the Brewers.

“Our focus needs to be on playing better. We got out-pitched, out-hit and out-defended three straight games,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said.

Taylor Jungmann pitched six strong innings in the Brewers’ 5-3 win over the Pirates on Thursday night.

“It seems like they always play good against us every time we come here,” Pirates second baseman Jordy Mercer said. “I don’t know what it is. It is not like we played bad. You have to give them credit too. They came out swinging and they didn’t miss pitches.”

The three losses at Miller Park dropped the Pirates 6 1/2 games behind the NL Central-leading Cardinals. Pittsburgh opens a three-game series at St. Louis on Friday night.

“We’re a good bounce-back team. I think the last time we got swept here we went on a tear for a month and a half,” Mercer said. “Nobody is really panicking at all.”

Domingo Santana homered for Milwaukee, which has outscored the Pirates 39-18 during its run. The fourth-place Brewers play four times at PNC Park next week.

Jungmann (9-5) gave up one run and three hits. In three starts against the Pirates this season, he is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 20 innings.

Francisco Rodriguez closed for his 33rd save in 34 chances.

Francisco Liriano (9-7) gave up an RBI double to Khris Davis in the fifth that gave Milwaukee a 2-1 lead.

“I just got behind in the count a lot and walked too many guys,” Liriano said.

Milwaukee added two more runs in the sixth, the first on Hernan Perez’s triple. Elian Herrera followed with what initially was ruled a two-run homer, but was changed to a double.