Brewers capitalize, thwart Reds' power rally
MILWAUKEE -- Adam Lind's two-run double capped a five-run fifth inning, part of his three-hit, three-RBI afternoon in an 8-4 Brewers win over the Reds that snapped Milwaukee's eight-game losing streak.
It took them nine tries, but the Brewers notched the victory they needed to mathematically avoid 100 losses. They also secured a season series victory over the Reds for the first time since 2006, winning 10 of 19 matchups in 2015. Rookie right-hander Ariel Pena earned the victory by pitching five innings before he was replaced by pinch-hitter Khris Davis, who delivered a go-ahead infield hit in the decisive fifth.
"It's just nice to win," said Lind, who boosted his home batting average to .343. "I guess we're not going to have 100 losses, so that's kind of a big deal."
Video: CIN@MIL: Lind doubles home two runs in the 5th
Jay Bruce went deep twice for his 17th career multihomer game in a losing effort for the Reds, who committed three costly errors in the game -- all amid Milwaukee rallies. Both of Bruce's homers reached the second deck beyond right field, with Statcast™ projecting the first shot to land 457 feet away and the second at 459 feet.
"He doesn't hit the cheapie here, does he?" Reds manager Bryan Price said of Bruce. "He's hit some long ones here. He's hit the upper deck a number of times since I've been with the Reds."
Video: CIN@MIL: Statcast™ measures Bruce's two long home runs
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Five spot: The Brewers sent 11 men to the plate, collected seven hits and scored five runs in the fifth inning against Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani and reliever Collin Balester to take a 5-2 lead. The critical play was Nevin Ashley's comebacker to DeSclafani, a potential double-play ball that instead gave the Brewers two runs to tie the game, thanks to throwing errors charged to DeSclafani and center fielder Ryan LaMarre. LaMarre later redeemed himself by throwing out Davis at the plate, but the Brewers tacked on three more runs after the errors.
"I think there was a little miscommunication there as to who I was throwing the ball to," DeSclafani said of his errant throw. "That all comes back to me. As long as I throw the ball over second base, stuff like that doesn't happen." More >
Video: CIN@MIL: Brewers tie game on two-error play in 5th
Back-to-back jacks: Cincinnati quickly answered Milwaukee's five-run fifth inning by hitting back-to-back home runs to start the sixth off Brewers reliever Kyle Lohse. Bruce led off with his second home run of the game and 33rd in his career against the Brewers, third-most among active players. Eugenio Suarez followed with a solo shot to right-center field, cutting the Brewers' lead to 5-4.
Video: CIN@MIL: Bruce, Suarez hit back-to-back homers in 6th
Record-setting patience: By drawing a pair of walks Sunday, Reds first baseman Joey Votto matched the single-season franchise record he set in 2010, when he drew 135 walks. Votto also holds the Reds record for most times reaching base via hit, walk or hit by pitch in a season at 316 (2013). He has reached base safely 295 times in 2015.
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Balanced attack: When Domingo Santana dropped an RBI single in front of diving Reds left fielder Adam Duvall in the eighth inning, all eight of the Brewers' starting position players had a hit in the game. That was notable, with Ryan Braun, Jonathan Lucroy and Davis all out of the starting lineup due to injuries. Santana had a big series, with seven hits and six RBIs against the Reds, with three of the hits and five of the RBIs coming Saturday night.
Video: CIN@MIL: Santana drives in Lind with single in 8th
"We needed a win," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "We had kind of a different group out there today because of injuries, and they did a nice job. We had that inning where they had a mistake and it cost them pretty big. We took advantage of it."
Video: CIN@MIL: Counsell discusses encouraging win
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
With two more home runs allowed Sunday, Lohse has surrendered 29 homers in 22 starts plus 12 relief appearances, at a rate of 1.80 home runs per nine innings. The only pitcher in Brewers history to make at least 22 starts with a higher home run rate was Ruben Quevedo, who allowed 1.81 home runs per nine innings in 2002. Braden Looper allowed 1.80 home runs per nine innings in 2009, when he surrendered a franchise-record total of 39 home runs.
INJURY EXIT
LaMarre left in the sixth inning with a strained right hamstring. Making just his fifth Major League start, LaMarre was injured while running out a groundout to shortstop. More >
Video: CIN@MIL: LaMarre injured running out grounder in 6th
UPON REVIEW
Price successfully challenged a play for the second consecutive game. With runners at first and second in the first inning, Brewers left fielder Jason Rogers hit a ball in the hole between shortstop and third base. Reds shortstop Suarez fielded the ball and made a strong throw to first, but first-base umpire D.J. Reyburn ruled Rogers safe. The play was overturned by replay in one minute, 21 seconds.
Video: CIN@MIL: Reds challenge safe call, Rogers thrown out
WHAT'S NEXT
Reds: Rookie John Lamb starts the series opener with the Cardinals on Monday night in St. Louis. The left-hander worked around six walks to toss five scoreless innings in an 11-0 victory over the Cardinals on Sept. 10. First pitch from Busch Stadium is at 8:15 ET.
Brewers: The final road trip of the season begins on Monday at Wrigley Field, where Wily Peralta will match up against Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel at 7:05 p.m. CT. After three games in Chicago, the Brewers finish their road slate with four games in St. Louis and three in San Diego.
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