PITTSBURGH -- Marlon Byrd likens joining a new team to the first day of school. Len Dawson Jersey . It took the well-travelled outfielder all of four at-bats to become one of the cool kids on the Pittsburgh Pirates. Byrd celebrated his arrival to the NL Central pennant race with a three-run home run, an epic strikeout, two standing ovations and a curtain call in Pittsburghs 7-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night. Quite an entrance for a player who 24 hours earlier was playing for the New York Mets. Thrust abruptly into the middle of a pennant race, Byrd provided the kind of immediate jolt the Pirates were looking for when they traded for the former All-Star along with backup catcher John Buck on Tuesday. "You want to feel accepted," Byrd said. "I felt accepted all day long." Smile plastered on his face from the moment he was introduced as the cleanup hitter, Byrd made an immediate impression, lining into a double play in his first at-bat. He followed that up with a 14-pitch duel against Milwaukees Tom Gorzelanny (3-6), a showdown that ended with Byrd flailing at strike three before being serenaded with a roar on his way back to the dugout. "That was amazing," Byrd said. "I was upset with myself that I didnt finish the at-bat but to hear the fans cheering, that was a beautiful thing." No matter. Byrd repaid the favour and then some in the seventh, drilling a fastball from Milwaukee reliever Burke Badenhop into the bushes in centre field for his 22nd home run of the season. The 35-year-old sprinted around the bases and was so lost in the moment he needed Pittsburgh ace A.J. Burnett to tell him to head back to the top step so he could tip his cap. "Coming in I was so excited," Byrd said. "It was Hey, get back out there." Byrds flair for the dramatic completed a night Pittsburgh (77-55) moved within five victories of the franchises first winning season in a generation. Josh Harrison went 3 for 4 with an RBI for the Pirates and Andrew McCutchen and Gaby Sanchez added two hits apiece. Charlie Morton (6-3) scattered five hits over 6 2-3 innings, walking three and striking out two to pick up his first career victory over the Brewers. Not that Morton noticed. The right-hander called his futility against Milwaukee "needless information" because it has little bearing on the future. "I think its something people like to talk about because theres been some consistency in that regard but really what the team is doing really well is not thinking about yesterday or two weeks ago, its the game today," Morton said. "If its the Brewers, its the Brewers, so be it. This is a different year anyway." Gorzelanny yielded four runs on nine hits in 5 1-3 innings, walking one and striking out five. Carlos Gomez had two of Milwaukees seven hits but the Brewers offered little resistance against Mortons steady dose of sinkers. "Offensively, we hit a few balls that could have got something going but on the whole we just didnt do too much," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. The Pirates did plenty, with their new slugger providing the finishing touch. Gorzelanny, who spent five seasons with the Pirates from 2005-09, can see Byrds presence having a positive influence in the clubhouse. "Hes a good piece that they got," Gorzelanny said. "Hes a smart player. He plays the game the right way, he plays it hard. Having a ballplayer like this, who is always a tough out, is going to make their lineup better." The homer was more celebratory than critical after Morton handcuffed the Brewers to end years of futility against Pittsburghs biggest nemesis. Milwaukee has won more than 70 per cent of its games against Pittsburgh since 2007 and came in 4-0 against Morton. That run of dominance is now over. Morton, still finding his way back from Tommy John surgery, dominated after some early trouble. The Brewers put four runners on base in the first inning but couldnt score and Morton took care of matters from there. He retired nine straight at one point and would have worked deeper if not for a rare mental mistake by catcher Russell Martin. Leading by four in the seventh, Martin tried to pick Yuniesky Betancourt off first. The ball sailed into right field, allowing Scooter Gennett to score. Byrds long ball restored order and the Pirates exhaled while clinching the season series against the Brewers for the first time since 2006. NOTES: Pirates LHP Wandy Rodriguez continues to deal with left forearm inflammation but will not require surgery. Rodriguez, who has been on the disabled list since May, was evaluated by Dr. James Andrews in Florida on Tuesday after experiencing discomfort during a throwing session. Rodriguez will resume throwing later this week ... Brewers prospect Johnny Hellweg was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year. Hellweg is 11-5 with a 3.16 ERA for Triple-A Nashville. The right-hander, who is 0-3 with a 10.97 in three starts with Milwaukee this season, will be recalled to the majors next month ... The series concludes on Thursday when Pittsburghs Gerrit Cole 6-6, 3.81 ERA) faces Milwaukees Yovani Gallardo (9-9, 4.61). Charcandrick West Jersey . The Wizards gave up two seldom-used players — forward Jan Vesely and point guard Eric Maynor. Vesely goes to the Nuggets, while Maynor gets shipped to the 76ers. Philadelphia receives two second-round draft picks, one from the Wizards in 2015 and one from the Nuggets in 2016. Daniel Sorensen Jersey . Despite 11-1 records, theyre out and Big Ten winner Ohio State is into the national semifinals. http://www.thechiefsshoponline.com/Youth-Marcus-Peters-Chiefs-Jersey/ . This time, it was Eric Chavezs turn. Stuck in a rut since coming off the disabled list, Chavez hit the first pitch he saw in the ninth inning for a run-scoring single, sending the Diamondbacks to another walk-off victory, 4-3 over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night.MIAMI -- With plenty of rest and enough run support, All-Star Tim Hudson got his second half off to a winning start. Hudson pitched into the eighth inning after having eight days between starts, and the San Francisco Giants beat the Miami Marlins 5-3 on Saturday night. "He was sharp, Im sure the added rest probably did benefit him," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. Hudson (8-6) came into the game with just five runs of support in his last five starts, but the Giants jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the fourth inning, which was enough for the 39-year old veteran. He allowed one run and eight hits in 7 1-3 innings. He struck out three and did not walk a batter while throwing 52 of his 81 pitches for strikes. "Obviously, this time of year, extra rest is usually welcomed," Hudson said. Hunter Pence drove in two runs and Pablo Sandoval had three hits for the Giants, who have won four of five. They are 54-43, the best record in the National League. "Im proud that we are in first place," Sandoval said. Giancarlo Stanton hit his National League-best 23rd home run for Miami, which has lost six straight. It was his second home run in two days after not hitting one for three weeks. "Thats good, back-to-back homers," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "Hopefully that gets him going. We definitely need him. Hes the guy, so its good to see him have a couple big at-bats and a couple home runs." Marlins All-Star starter Henderson Alvarez (6-5) departed with a bruised left shin after being hit by a grounder by Joe Panik in the third. Alvarez threw out Panik at first before limping off. X-rays were negative and he plans on making his next start on July 24. "It got me in between the bone and the flesh," Alvarez said. "It got me pretty good. Luckily IIm fine, just a bump. Dee Ford Jersey. . I anticipate on making my next start. We have to give it a couple days to see how it heals, but as of now Im looking to pitch in Atlanta." Sergio Romo allowed a home run to Stanton to lead off the ninth and departed after allowing a two-out double to Marcell Ozuna. Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit an RBI single off Santiago Casilla to pull the Marlins within 5-3, but Adeiny Hechavarria lined out to end the game as Casilla picked up his fifth save in eight opportunities. Giants first baseman Brandon Belt left the game in the third due to dizziness, but not before hitting an RBI double. Belt was struck by a ball in the face during batting practice when two balls were thrown at him at the same time. "He seemed OK," Bochy said. "Of course he had the big hit to get us going and then he started complaining of headaches, got a little nauseous, dizziness." Belt will be held out of Sundays game and will be given a concussion test. Miami trailed 2-1 when Alvarez left the game and was replaced by Sam Dyson. Dyson was sharp in his first inning of work before allowing three runs in the fourth, which included hitting a batter and walking two. His bases-loaded walk to Hudson gave the Giants a 3-1 lead. Pence stretched the lead to 5-1 with a two-run single. Casey McGehee had an RBI single in the first to give the Marlins an early lead. NOTES: Marlins 2B Jordany Valdespin went 1 for 4 in his season debut after being selected from Triple-A New Orleans. ... Hudson is 15-4 in his career against the Marlins including an 11-1 mark in South Florida. ... The Giants will send RHP Tim Lincecum (9-5, 3.66 ERA) to the mound in Sundays series finale against LHP Brad Hand (0-2, 5.26). Lincecum is 4-0 with a 0.30 ERA since June 25. 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