For years, Brewers players have grumbled -- privately and publicly -- about the shadows that creep across the field during day games at Miller Park.

On Sunday, the team tried something new.

The right field roof panels were partially closed before the game, moving the shadow's edge past the pitcher's mound.

Normally, the day games begin with the shadows crossing somewhere between home plate and the mound, with the batter standing in darkness while the pitcher is standing in sunlight.

The situation made it difficult for batters to pick up pitches, and team officials responded with some attempts and upgrades, including making the batter's backdrop in center field darker.

None of it seemed to really help, though, as the Brewers stumbled to a 9-15 record during home day games this season. But, at the same time, opponents have outscored the Brewers, 144-95, heading into Sunday's game.

So maybe it was the shadows -- or lack thereof -- Sunday. Maybe it was the fact that the Brewers were playing the Pirates. Whatever it was, it worked, as the Brewers beat Pittsburgh, 8-4.

"It just took one of the different colors you're looking at out of play," said third baseman Casey McGehee. "I think it made a big difference. I don't know if it was coincidence or what, but it looked like, especially in the first couple innings, we had some better swings at balls."

Ryan Braun has been one of the most vocal players on the issue over the years. Coming into the game Sunday, Braun was hitting .257 in day games and just .217 (20-for-94) during the day at Miller Park heading into Sunday's game.

Against the Pirates, he went 4-for-4 with a home run, boosting his average in day home games to .213.

He didn't make himself available to reporters following the game so it's anybody's guess whether or not the roof positioning affected with his performance.

More on Braun: Speaking of Braun, he's been on a tear of late, hitting at a .419 clip (39-for-93) over his last 25 games to boost his average from .273 on July 30 to an even .300 heading into tonight's game at Cincinnati.

At Miller Park, however, he's struggled all year -- regardless of what time the game starts. After yesterday's four-hit performance, Braun is hitting .254 with 10 home runs and 37 RBI in 41 home games.

Those numbers aren't outright awful, but when you look at his career home numbers you'll discover a disturbing trend.

He hit .326 at home during his rookie season and was down to .305 in 2008 and dropped to .294 last year.

Again, those numbers don't foretell the end of the world, but should cause some concern especially considering that Braun, signed through the 2015 season, will be spending a lot of time at Miller Park.

One step closer: With two on and one out in the ninth inning Sunday, Ken Macha walked out to the mound while the Miller Park crowd rose to its feet.

They were cheering Macha indirectly because they knew it was time for "Hells Bells."

Hoffman survived a scare when Garrett Jones' long drive to right drifted foul at the last possible second, but got the final two outs of the Brewers' 8-4 victory and clinched his 599th career save.

Baseball's all-time saves leader is just one away from 600, a milestone the 42-year-old admits is nice, but knows -- especially given trials and tribulations of this season -- isn't a given.

"Round numbers are really what baseball looks at," Hoffman said. "If this is my last season, it would be hard to walk away knowing your one shy of a big number.

"In the big picture it's still a body of work."

Hoffman has a 2.45 ERA over his last 27 games and has not blown a save since May 18.

With Hoffman one away from 600 and the Brewers embarking on a six-game road trip, the biggest question is, do the Brewers try to arrange it so Hoffman's shot at 600 comes at Miller Park?

Hoffman said he'd prefer to do it at home, where he says the fans are invested just as much as he is, but at the end of the day, there's a job to be done.

"They've been grinding through this thing as well," Hoffman said. "It would be special to have it done at home."

Said Macha, who wasn't exactly pleased when a reporter asked about saving Hoffman until the team returned home: "We're trying to win games. That's what it's all about."

Capuano gets another start: He didn't fare much better than his predecessor, but Chris Capuano will get another shot at starting.

Capuano lasted just three innings, allowing six runs on six hits, against Pittsburgh Saturday in his third start since returning from a second "Tommy John" surgery.

He'll get another shot Friday in Philadelphia.

"I can't wait to get back out there," Capuano said

Capuano took the place of Manny Parra in the rotation after the left-hander again failed to give the Brewers reason to believe he's turned a corner.

He was 1-5 with a 7.45 ERA in his last 10 starts, but has pitched two scoreless relief outings since being removed from the rotation.

"I always want to be a starter," Parra said. "You do whatever you can to be successful in this game and be on the winning side of things. Whatever that may be, I'm fine with it."

No sign of The Man: Last week, Carlos Gomez told the Journal Sentinel's Anthony Witrado that he was still "the man" in center field, despite losing playing time to rookie Lorenzo Cain.

At the time, Macha would only say that Gomez's comments were "interesting."

What's interesting is the fact that since his comments, Gomez has made just one start -- in right field last Thursday against the Dodgers -- and three pinch-hitting appearances.

Macha likes to say that the players, by virtue of their performance, write the lineup. Gomez, who's hitting .229, has pretty much written himself out.

Quick hits: RHP Randy Wolf needs just two strikeouts to reach 1,500 for his career ... Brewers opponents have scored first in each of the last seven games ... The bullpen has a 1.35 ERA in the last 17 games, holding opponents to a .159 (33-for-207) batting average during that stretch ... Four Brewers players have at least 20 home runs this season ... RHP John Axford's 19 saves are the most ever by a Brewers rookie ... LHP Zach Braddock has held opponents scoreless in 30 of his 34 outings ... IF Craig Counsell is batting .306 (11-for-36) as a pinch-hitter and IF Joe Inglett leads the majors with 19 pinch hits ... McGehee's 27 RBI in August led the major leagues ... Three of Milwaukee's eight series sweeps this season have come at the Pirates' expense ... IF Alcides Escobar's eight triples lead the team and are the second-most in the National League.

On the farm: Class A Wisconsin pitchers Jake Odorizzi and Adrian Rosario combined for a no-hitter last week against Cedar Rapids at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton. Odorizzi pitched eight innings, walking one and striking out 10. He was pulled in favor of Rosario after throwing 117 pitches. Odorizzi is 7-3 with a 3.34 ERA in 22 games (19 starts) this season. He's struck out 130 batters in 116 innings of work and will make his final start of the season Tuesday against Kane County.

This week: After feasting on the Pirates' version of major league pitching over the weekend, the Brewers will find themselves up against some stiffer competition this week. Milwaukee heads to the Queen City tonight for the first of three games with the NL Central-leading Reds before moving to Philadelphia over the weekend to face the Phillies, who currently lead the Wild Card race.