MILWAUKEE -- Dressed in vintage baggy uniforms of the Negro Leagues, Milwaukee's Dave Bush and Pittsburgh's Paul Maholm engaged in a classic pitcher's duel Saturday night at Miller Park and left with nothing to show for it.

But in a classic ninth inning that featured a leadoff walk, a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk and walk-off single, the Brewers finally came away with something to show for it, a 2-1 victory over the Pirates that brought them to within 3.5 games of the first-place Chicago Cubs. That 's the closest they have been to the top of the National League Central since May 4.

It was Prince Fielder who delivered the winning blow that scored Rickie Weeks, who was on second after a leadoff walk and moved 90 feet following J.J. Hardy's sacrifice bunt that brought to a close his 16-game hitting streak. Following an intentional walk to Ryan Braun, Fielder delivered the winner to left center off Pirates reliever Tyler Yates (3-2).

"He thrives in those situations," manager Ned Yost said of Fielder, who had his second straight two-hit game.

Eric Gagne, pitching his second shutout inning since coming back from a shoulder problem, picked up the victory by throwing the ninth.

If it hadn't been for quality at-bats by Weeks and Hardy, it 's unlikely Fielder would have had the chance to wear the laurels.

Weeks fell behind 0-2 before working the walk. "The biggest thing I'm thinking is getting on base somehow," he said.

Up came Hardy, hitless in three at-bats and his hitting streak on the line.

"I debated long and hard (about letting Hardy hit away) because J.J.'s very hot, not because of the hitting streak," Yost said. "I couldn't take the chance of them getting doubled up."

After the bunt, it was the Pirates chance to think. They took the conventional route of setting up the double play by passing Braun.

"It shocked me that they did that," Weeks said. "But in certain situations you do certain things that you think are going to give you a chance to win. I'm just glad it worked out for us."

Watching in their respective dugouts were Maholm and Bush, who pitched brilliantly for eight innings apiece.

Maholm's only mistake came in the second when Mike Cameron hit a two-out, full-count home run, his 14th of the year. He scattered four hits and struck out six.

Bush's only problem came in the fifth when Adam LaRoche and Jose Bautista opened with back-to-back doubles to center. Bush then retired the final 12 hitters he faced en route to throwing 100 pitches. He struck out a season-high seven and didn 't walk a batter.

Bush was at his best after Bautista's hit. He moved to third on his hit when Weeks' throw to the plate -- in an effort to get Xavier Nady -- skipped by catcher Jason Kendall. But with the infield playing in, Bush struck out Maholm for the first out, retired Jack Wilson on a grounder to Weeks and erased Nate McLouth on a fly ball to center.

Bush is carrying a 3.20 ERA in his last seven starts.

Bush's timing is impeccable, too. With all the talk about a trade for Cleveland's C.C. Sabathia, Bush is one of the likely targets to get moved out of the rotation if the Brewers should acquire the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.

"I know what I have to offer," Bush said as he held his infant daughter, Avery. "I know I'm not the pitcher C.C. is. I'm pretty sure there are 29 other teams that would take him if they had the chance.

"I guess we'll just wait and see."