SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Lucroy and Yuniesky Betancourt drove in two runs each, and the Milwaukee Brewers held on to beat the San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Friday night.

Shaun Marcum (9-3) pitched seven solid innings to push the Brewers back into first place in the crowded NL Central standings. Pittsburgh and St. Louis are one game back.

Lucroy's two-run single highlighted a three-run second inning off Matt Cain (8-6) that gave the Brewers a big lift with All-Star Ryan Braun getting the night off to rest his strained left calf.

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Francisco Rodriguez pitched a perfect eighth and John Axford held the Giants scoreless in the ninth for his 27th save.

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