Derek Shelton knows what can happen when he writes the names of three rookies into the meat of his batting order.

“We talk about rookies are going to do things that frustrate you,” the Pittsburgh Pirates manager said, “and they’re going to do things that make you smile.”

Finally, after a seven-game losing streak, Shelton and his players had reason to smile Tuesday night at PNC Park after the Pirates’ 5-3 victory against the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers (57-46). The victory, in front of a crowd of 12,401, was only the Pirates’ third in the past 15 games. They remain last in the Central at 41-62.

The decisive hit — one of only four by the Pirates – was rookie shortstop Oneil Cruz’s three-run homer in the sixth inning against reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes. On base ahead of him were rookies Bligh Madris and Cal Mitchell, who worked the unusually sloppy Burnes for two of his five walks. Burnes also hit two batters in the third.

“A really big moment,” Shelton said of Cruz’s seventh home run of the season, this one traveling 408 feet and leaving his bat at 104.2 mph.

“I think we had a really big moment that inning with three rookies. For (Cruz) to take an 87, 88 mph changeup that looked like it was off the plate away and hit it straight away to dead center field off the reigning Cy Young Award winner, I think it’s a huge moment.”

Wil Crowe, who picked up his third save by striking out three batters in the ninth, said pitchers in the bullpen watched video of Cruz’s home run for two innings.

“He’s a freak. He’s like baby Shaq on the baseball field,” Crowe said. “It looked like he just flicked it out there and it goes 105 (mph), 410 feet, whatever it may be.

“It’s a pleasure to play behind him. I’m glad he’s on my team. That’s for sure.”

Shelton was equally impressed with how Madris and Mitchell reached base to set the stage for a game-tying home run.

“I want to make sure we highlight the two at-bats before that,” he said. “Because earlier in the game, the first time through, Burnes got them to chase and got ‘em with a runner at third. (Ben Gamel had tripled to lead off the second inning.)

“Really, (Burnes) didn’t throw either one of them very many strikes. And for them to come back later in the game and have the approach they have … I give all three of them a ton of credit.”

For Cruz, it was his second home run this season against one of the National League’s best pitchers. He homered July 24 against Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins.

“My mindset is to never really care about who’s pitching or who’s on the mound,” Cruz said through interpretor Mike Gonzalez. “To be honest with you, my mindset has always been, ‘See the ball. Hit the ball hard.’ It doesn’t really matter who’s on the mound.”

Before Cruz came to the plate, backup outfielder Jake Marisnick challenged him to hit a double that would have at least trimmed the Brewers’ 3-0 lead. Cruz told Marisnick he could double that double.

“That’s the confidence that you have to have up here,” Cruz said. “When he brought up that comment, right away I thought to myself, ‘I’m here to tie up this game. I’m gonna go crush that ball.’ I told him that.”

Gonzalez corroborated Cruz’s story.

“I’m a witness. Marisnick right away high-fived me,” Gonzalez said. “He said, ‘Hey, he’s not a liar.’ ”

Cruz’s home run only tied the score. In the end, the Pirates scored a season-high five runs in the inning. Josh VanMeter walked, stole second and scored on Tyler Heineman’s single. After a throwing error by shortstop Willy Adames, Heineman scored on a passed ball.

Bryse Wilson takes accountability for the Brewers’ three home runs in the ninth inning. pic.twitter.com/WIOOksVx4p

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) August 3, 2022

Pirates starting pitcher Bryse Wilson was effective through five scoreless innings before surrendering home runs to Adames, Rowdy Tellez and Kolten Wong that broke a scoreless tie in the sixth.

“I don’t necessarily think it was lack of focus or anything like that,” Wilson said. “Just didn’t get them down in the zone. Good hitters, they’re going to take advantage of it.

“Definitely frustrating. You turn what could have been an incredible start into an OK start.”

Shelton called on four relief pitchers to keep the Brewers scoreless through the final three innings.

Wil Crowe picks up his third save of the season while David Bednar deals with a sore back. pic.twitter.com/JHt7IbLqhn

— Jerry DiPaola (@JDiPaola_Trib) August 3, 2022

Crowe pitched the crucial ninth because David Bednar’s back is sore.

Asked if Bednar may need to go on the injured list, Shelton said, “I think we’ll probably make that determination over the next day or two just to see where he’s at and see how see how he responds.”

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