MILWAUKEE -- Don't count Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell among those who think something is wrong with Andrew McCutchen.

"I remember some of the Pittsburgh people asking me about that when I was there," Counsell said Thursday night. "I would never say there's anything wrong with that guy. I know he hasn't had the kind of great year he normally has, but he's a force. No question."

Counsell found that out the hard way, as McCutchen collected three hits Thursday night and accounted for all three Pittsburgh runs including a first-inning home run and the game-winning RBI single in the 10th inning in a 3-2 loss.

It was the latest effort in a good spurt for the Pirates' center fielder, who has seven hits in his last five games.

"I think it's already been going pretty well for me," McCutchen said. "I'm in a good spot. Even when I'm behind in the count, I know I can still battle and get the job done. I was able to do that today. There's 30-something games left and I'm just trying to finish them strong."

Hitting at Miller Park has rarely been an issue for McCutchen, who had 121 hits over his career in Milwaukee prior to Thursday. For the rest of his team, things haven't been so good in the Brew City.

Even with their victory Thursday, the Pirates are 18-64 in Milwaukee since the start of the 2007 season and 57-104 overall against the Brewers during that same stretch.

"They've had an awfully good offensive club here for a number of years," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "When you make mistakes, you pay here. Like a lot of places, this is more hitter-friendly than some parks. However, his mentality right now, he's building experience without reality in every new park. He was very aggressive tonight, that as much as anything is what dictates the results. You don't give in from the start, you go. You step on the gas, you make pitches and you stay aggressive."

The Pirates will try to stay on the winning track in Milwaukee on Friday when Ryan Vogelsong makes his seventh start of the season against Brewers right-hander Matt Garza.

Vogelsong has made 16 career appearances against Milwaukee, going 5-3 with a 4.67 ERA. But in his last six outings against the Brewers, Vogelsong is 4-0 with a 2.53 mark.

Garza, meanwhile, is still trying to get settled after missing the first two months of the season recovering from a shoulder injury.

He allowed five earned runs on nine hits and a walk in just 3 2/3 innings his last time out but took no decision as the Brewers rallied for a 7-6 victory in Seattle.

He's made 11 career starts against the Pirates, going 3-4 with a 4.37 ERA including 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in two starts this season.