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MILWAUKEE -- It's tough enough for the Pirates to win in Miller Park in April or May, when the stakes are low.

But thrust the Milwaukee Brewers into the chase for a playoff bid, add a raucous crowd and crisp, late-September air ... and it's no contest.

The Pirates overcame two deficits and two uncommon errors Tuesday night, but fell short again in the ninth inning. Prince Fielder hit a two-out, two-run homer, boosting the Brewers to a 7-5 victory.

The Pirates extended their losing streak at Miller Park to 13 games. The Brewers won for just the third time in their past 11 games and stayed one game behind the New York Mets in the National League wild-card race.

"They had a lot of things going their way," Pirates manager John Russell said. "Every at-bat means a lot to the Brewers. They're going to be tough outs late in the game because they've got a lot riding on it."

With two outs in the ninth, Ryan Braun legged out an infield single against right-handed reliever T.J. Beam (2-2). Fielder followed with a towering, 415-foot shot over the wall in right-center field.

"I was going to 'unintentionally intentionally' walk him," Beam said. "But I fell behind 2-0, and he was sitting on the slider. I hung it just a little bit. Bad pitch, good hit."

It was Fielder's second career walkoff homer. The first came Aug. 31, 2005, against the Pirates at -- where else? -- Miller Park.

Nyjer Morgan and Nate McLouth had combined for 402 defensive chances this season without making an error before yesterday's game. That run came to a crashing halt in the first inning and cost the Pirates a pair of unearned runs.

Mike Cameron led off with a fast-sinking flyball to shallow left. Morgan charged, but the ball ticked off his glove. Cameron reached first base on the error.

With one out, Braun hit a blast to left-center. The ball zoomed beyond Morgan's reach and caromed off the wall toward center field. McLouth grabbed the ball, turned and blindly threw.

Second baseman Freddy Sanchez fell as he ran out to get the relay throw, so the ball rolled untouched into the infield. Braun, who had stopped with an RBI triple, scooted home on McLouth's error to make it 2-0, sending the crowd of 36,612 into a frenzy.

Despite the miscue, McLouth still is considered a front-runner to win a Gold Glove award. Voting ends Oct. 3, but most major-league coaches and managers already have cast their ballots.

The last Pirate to win a Gold Glove was shortstop Jay Bell in 1993. The last Pittsburgh outfielders to be honored were Andy Van Slyke and Barry Bonds in 1992.

Right-hander Jeff Karstens rebounded from the Pirates' first-inning troubles, but wound up with a no-decision. He pitched six innings, gave up five hits, walked one and struck out six.

"I had a better rhythm going today," Karstens said.

After Karstens issued his first walk, putting Craig Counsell on base to start the seventh, he was relieved by Jesse Chavez. The rookie gave up a one-out single to pinch-hitter Mike Lamb and a two-run double to Cameron, putting the Pirates ahead, 4-3.

The Pirates went up, 5-4, in the eighth on Steve Pearce's two-run homer, his second of the season.

The Brewers tied it in the bottom of the inning against lefty John Grabow. With a runner at second and two outs, Jason Kendall ripped an RBI double over Pearce's head in right. Kendall is 3 for 3 lifetime against Grabow.

"We did a nice job," Russell said. "We just couldn't close it off."

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