Adam LaRoche and Ryan Doumit each hit two-run home runs to push the Pirates past the Milwaukee Brewers, 5-3, this evening before 35,878 at PNC Park.

Ian Snell overcame a slow first inning, one in which Ryan Braun hit a three-run home run for Milwaukee, to blank the Brewers in the next seven innings. He improved to 7-5 in his final start before the All-Star break, giving up nine hits and a walk while striking out five.

Closer Matt Capps recorded his eighth save in as many opportunities despite giving up Johnny Estrada's leadoff double in the ninth. He got Geoff Jenkins to ground out, Gabe Gross to pop up and Rickie Weeks to fly out to the warning track in center.

The Pirates cut into Milwaukee's 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first when Nate McLouth tripled and scored on Jose Bautista's sacrifice fly.

They tied the score in the fourth when LaRoche drew a seven-pitch walk from Claudio Vargas and Doumit hammered his 2-0 fastball to the top row of seats above the Clemente Wall in right field. It was Doumit's fifth home run.

Freddy Sanchez led off the sixth with a single, and LaRoche took three balls before LaRoche launched his 11th home run into the center-field seating section for a 5-3 lead.

LaRoche is 13 for 28 in his past seven games, with three home runs, four doubles and eight RBIs. He also played exceptional defense on this day, making three above-average picks at first base.

The Pirates have taken two of three from the first-place Brewers and could take the series tomorrow with Tom Gorzelanny on the mound.

First Published: July 4, 2007, 10:30 p.m.