J.J. Hardy broke out of a slump by driving in four runs on three hits and the Milwaukee Brewers beat Pittsburgh 8-5 on Tuesday night for their 17th consecutive victory over the Pirates, the majors' longest winning streak by one team against another in nearly 40 years.

The Brewers' domination of the Pirates is the longest since Baltimore won 23 consecutive games against Kansas City during the 1969 (11) and 1970 (12) seasons. The Pirates haven't beaten the Brewers since May 22, 2008, and won't get another chance until the teams meet again July 20 in Pittsburgh.

Hardy was 3 of 27 before reaching base four times on two run-scoring singles, an RBI double and a walk to help Milwaukee open a 6-2 lead in the sixth behind Jeff Suppan (2-2). The right-hander labored through 5 2-3 innings to improve to 13-3 against the Pirates in his career and 6-0 in his last eight starts despite permitting five hits, three runs and walked three.

Pirates starter Ian Snell (1-4) struggled even more in losing to Milwaukee for the second time in seven days. He was pulled after 94 pitches _ 37 fewer than he threw during a 1-0 loss to the Brewers last Wednesday. He gave up five runs and four hits and walked five in five-plus innings.

Carlos Villanueva pitched the ninth inning for his third save in six opportunities as Trevor Hoffman took the night off.

A cold, misty rain fell nearly all nine innings and, along with the slow pace created by 17 walks and numerous 3-ball counts, chased home many in the slim turnout of 9,775 well before the game ended after 3 hours, 35 minutes.

Any game against the Brewers seems destined to be a long night for the Pirates, who have lost seven of eight overall. They went 1-4 on a five-game homestand against the Reds and Brewers.

The Pirates led 1-0 in the first on Freddy Sanchez's third homer, not long after the second baseman appeared to injure his right shoulder diving to throw out a runner in the top of the inning. Milwaukee tied it on Hardy's RBI single that followed Corey Hart's double in the second. Hardy had a two-run double that made it 3-1 in the fourth.

Snell was charged with a run and the Brewers scored twice against Jesse Chavez during a three-run sixth that included Hardy's two-run single and Chavez's bases-loaded walk to Rickie Weeks.

Notes:@ Hardy went 3 for 3 to raise his average to .195. ... Brewers LF Ryan Braun (upper back) returned to the lineup after not starting three games. ... 3B Bill Hall, who replaced Braun in LF on Monday only to be lifted in the second inning, was held out with tightness in his right hamstring. ... The Brewers are 5-0 against the Pirates this season. ... Pirates closer Matt Capps (right elbow irritation) won't pitch during a two-game series in St. Louis. ... Despite the Brewers' recent success against the Pirates, they are 27-43 in PNC Park. ... Pittsburgh homered for the second straight game after homering in only one of its previous 10.