"Yovani Gallardo didn't return to the mound a day too soon.

Bringing back sanity to a starting rotation that had taken its lumps throughout a crazy week, Gallardo pitched six shutout innings Thursday night to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.

"The first couple of innings, I was a little amped up," said Gallardo (9-4, 2.45). "I had a lot of energy. I was able to relax after that."

One never would have known that Gallardo spent the previous 17 days on the disabled list, recovering from a left oblique strain. Or that the Pirates had taken apart the Brewers' pitching staff for 26 runs in the previous two games."