PITTSBURGH -- The Milwaukee Brewers were in a jovial mood Monday night after their 3-0 shutout of the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. And why not?

The Brewers picked up a half-game in the standings and got some stellar defense, a home run from Ryan Braun, and an RBI and a run from former Pirates player Neil Walker.

Perhaps most rewarding was the start for left-hander Brent Suter, who went past the third inning for the first time since he came off the disabled list and recorded four assists -- underhand throws to first on tappers to the mound.

"He was really good. He was really efficient," Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said, then tossed out a zinger. "He fielded his position well. We're going to go bowling after the game in his honor with all his underhand throws."

Suter (3-2), who returned on Aug. 31 after dealing with a strained left rotator cuff, hadn't made more than 50 pitches in an outing since then. On Monday, though, he pitched five scoreless innings, giving up five hits and striking out four. He threw 64 pitches.

"Changeup was big time for me tonight," Suter said. "I was able to throw that in any count.

"I was hoping to get through five, given that the last couple I was only able to go three. ... Luckily, I was able to do that."

Jeremy Jeffress, Josh Hader and Anthony Swarzak handled the next three innings, and Corey Knebel pitched the ninth for his 36th save.

The five Brewers pitchers kept the Pirates off the plate despite giving up eight hits. They combined to strike out 11 and walk none.

Milwaukee (80-70) won its second straight and moved to within 3 1/2 games of the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. The Brewers are two games out in the chase for a wild-card spot.

Andrew McCutchen went 3-for-4 for Pittsburgh, which has lost six in a row and 11 of 12.

The Pirates (68-83) have scored two runs or fewer in seven of their past eight games.

Pittsburgh starter Jameson Taillon (7-7) was skipped in the rotation after he lasted only 4 2/3 innings on Sept. 7 in an 8-2 loss to the Cubs. In that game, he gave up six runs and 11 hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

On Monday, he allowed two runs in five-plus innings, with six hits, four strikeouts and one walk.

"I actually thought I rebounded pretty well," Taillon said. "Definitely encouraging. A step in the right direction, which is what I'm looking for at the end of the year."

Braun gave Milwaukee a 1-0 lead with a one-out homer to left in the fourth. It was his 17th homer of the season, and it came on Taillon's 50th pitch.

"Right out of the hand, I could tell it was a fat pitch," Taillon said. "I didn't want to watch it, but then I decided to watch it because it was pretty far."

Travis Shaw followed with a double to left-center field, but Eric Thames lined into a double play.

Walker's no-out RBI single in the sixth gave the Brewers a 2-0 lead and chased Taillon. Reliever A.J. Schugel got out of the inning with no more damage on a fielder's choice, a strikeout and a fly ball.

In the eighth, Shaw hit the third of three straight one-out singles off reliever George Kontos to drive in Walker for a 3-0 lead.

The game ended when Pittsburgh's Gregory Polanco hit a two-out single in the ninth but was thrown out by center fielder Brett Phillips trying to stretch it into a double.

That was the Pirates' second baserunning blunder. In the seventh, Pittsburgh's Elias Diaz hit a two-out double down the right field line but was thrown out by right fielder Hernan Perez and cutoff man Eric Sogard while trying to stretch it into a triple.

"They ran into mistakes, and we capitalized on them," Knebel said. "It was good to have outfield assists."

The plays were as devastating to the Pirates as they were uplifting for the Brewers.

"We're two runs down, three runs down in two different instances," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "They're unacceptable plays at this level. At the end of the day, those aren't good baseball plays, and they aren't plays that are going to help your team win."

NOTES: Pirates C Francisco Cervelli, on the disabled list because of right quadriceps irritation, will be shut down for the season, manager Clint Hurdle said. ... Pittsburgh RHP Tyler Glasnow is scheduled to pitch in relief at some point Wednesday and will get another start this season, Hurdle said. ... Milwaukee RHP Barrett Astin cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville.