MILWAUKEE — Carlos Villanueva began the season as the Milwaukee Brewers' closer while Trevor Hoffman was on the disabled list.

After 19 games, though, Villanueva has an ugly earned run average of 6.75. In Monday's 10-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park, Villanueva allowed two runs on three hits.

“I think he’s down a little bit," Milwaukee manager Ken Macha said before Tuesday's game. "He wants to help the team and he’s probably down a little bit. He’s got to just fight his way through this and start making his pitches.”

On Monday, Villanueva was one out away from getting out of the eighth inning, and had Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez down 0-2. Sanchez doubled on the next pitch, scoring two runs.

“I think it’s back to just trying too hard," Macha said. "You try to throw a slider a little too hard and you wind up hanging it. And he’s not the first guy that did that.”