Ben Sheets’ ailing right elbow forced him out of the game long before Milwaukee ended its losing streak. It’s still unclear if the injury will sideline him during the Brewers’ push for a playoff spot.

The All-Star right-hander left after two innings because of a tender elbow but the Brewers, boosted by Prince Fielder’s three-run double, beat the Chicago Cubs 6-2 Wednesday night to stop a five-game skid.

The Brewers stayed a half-game behind New York in the NL wild-card race. Now they have to wonder if Sheets can pitch again over the final 10 games.

“It’s been so up and down that I would think it’s very possible,” Sheets said. “There’s been really good days and really bad days. There’s been days where it’s hard to move it and it’s stiff. Then the next day it’s great. So we’ll see.”

Fielder’s big hit in the first inning off Jason Marquis (10-9) sent the Brewers to their first victory under interim manager Dale Sveum. They won for only the fourth time in 16 games — it was Sveum’s second game since replacing the fired Ned Yost.

The Cubs had won five in a row. Their magic number for clinching the NL Central is four.

“You think you have the advantage when you see Sheets leaving in the second inning and you get to their bullpen early,” third baseman Aramis Ramirez said. “But it didn’t happen tonight. ... It doesn’t matter how many games we need to clinch. You can’t win every day. They threw the ball well.”

Sheets was replaced by Mark DiFelice (1-0), who pitched two innings for his first major league win. Milwaukee used seven relievers in all and the bullpen didn’t give up a run until the ninth.

Diamondbacks 7, Giants 6

At Phoenix, Brandon Webb pitched seven solid innings and added a key two-run double, helping Arizona gain ground in the NL West.

The Diamondbacks have won three straight for the first time since Aug. 19-21 against the Pirates and trimmed the Dodgers’ division lead to 3 1/2 games.

Justin Upton and David Eckstein went deep for Arizona, which has 11 games left. Webb (21-7) allowed three runs — two earned — and eight hits, and his double in Arizona’s five-run second tied it at 3.

San Francisco scored three runs in the ninth before Tony Pena earned his third save.

Jonathan Sanchez (9-11) allowed six runs and six hits in 3 2-3 innings for the Giants.

Pirates 15, Dodgers 8

Adam LaRoche hit a grand slam among his two homers and Pittsburgh stalled visiting Los Angeles’ late-season surge with an eight-run seventh-inning rally.

Mets 9, Nationals 7

Carlos Beltran homered from both sides of the plate, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado also went deep and visiting New York held on for the win.

Brandon Knight (1-0), a 32-year-old journeyman back from the Olympics, earned his first major league victory with five solid innings.

Phillies 6, Braves 1

Ryan Howard drove in the first run in Philadelphia’s four-run first inning, and rookie J.A. Happ pitched six scoreless innings to help the visiting Phillies earn their season-high sixth straight win.

Howard, bidding to win his second NL MVP award in three years, has 29 RBIs in his last 21 games and 137 this season to lead the majors. Happ (1-0) allowed only three hits in his fourth career start.

Jair Jurrjens (13-10) gave up four runs, five hits and five walks in five innings.

Marlins 14, Astros 2

At Miami, Hanley Ramirez homered twice before departing with an injured shoulder, Jorge Cantu hit a grand slam and Florida beat slumping Houston.

Reds 3, Cardinals 0

Aaron Harang pitched a six-hitter and Cincinnati hit back-to-back homers to send the visiting Cardinals to their seventh straight loss.

Andy Phillips and Jay Bruce opened the fourth with consecutive home runs and Paul Janish added the first of his career later in the inning to help Harang (5-16) to his first win since Aug. 22. The Reds have won four straight and seven of nine.