PITTSBURGH — Gregory Polanco’s two-run home run in the eighth inning lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 5-4 victory on Sunday over the Milwaukee Brewers and a three-game series sweep.

Polanco connected off David Phelps (2-3) for his fourth homer of the season and finished 2 for 3 with a walk. It was Polanco’s second two-hit game in as many days, lifting his batting average from .085 to .151.

In a roundabout way, Polanco called his shot while talking to teammate Jose Osuna in the on-deck circle.

“I told him I was about to hit a ball very hard,” Polanco said. “It’s something you’ve got to do to motivate yourself. It’s something you’ve got to do to go into the batter’s box with confidence. I’m feeling good now.”

Manager Derek Shelton believes Polanco has needed some time to regain his hitting stroke after beginning the season on the COVID-19 injury list.

“We talked about how we felt his timing was good at the end of (spring training) 2.0 and then he lost it because he lost 10 days because of the positive test,” Shelton said. “We’re starting to see the timing is back and the ability to take really aggressive swings.”

The Pirates nearly doubled their season win total in one weekend. They entered the series with a 4-17 record, worst in the major leagues.

“There were a lot of good things that happened,” Shelton said.

Cole Tucker started the winning rally with a one-out single and Polanco hit a shot to center field one out later off a 1-1 cut fastball.

“It’s a pitch I pride myself in being able to make and I just didn’t make it,” Phelps said. “I tried to hit the corner with it and let it loose, back middle, and he put a good swing on it. Y’all saw the result.”