Late push helps Brewers snap skid vs. Reds
MILWAUKEE -- Jean Segura delivered the clutch hit the Brewers have so badly needed, a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning that sent Milwaukee to a 4-2 win over Cincinnati on Thursday at Miller Park.
Adam Lind and Aramis Ramirez hit solo home runs, but the Brewers needed Segura's single off Reds reliever Kevin Gregg to snap an eight-game losing streak. Starter Kyle Lohse allowed two runs in seven innings for his first victory, and Brewers closer Francisco Rodriguez bounced back from a loss the night before to notch his second save.
"It was good to come off the field and shake hands," said Lohse, who entered the day winless in his first three starts with a 10.34 ERA. "We have to keep it going. We can't get them all back right now; we have to keep our heads down and keep grinding it out. That's all we can do." More >
Video: CIN@MIL: Lohse on earning first win of 2015
The Reds missed a chance to sweep the four-game series despite getting a solid start from Homer Bailey (two runs in 5 2/3 innings) and a two-run home run from slumping outfielder Marlon Byrd. More >
Video: CIN@MIL: Bailey strikes out three over 5 2/3 innings
"Coming back [and] winning three out of four in this series [turned] what looked to be a disastrous road trip into, not a good one, but certainly [a] better [one] than it could have [been]," Reds manager Bryan Price said.
Video: CIN@MIL: Segura's RBI single gives Brewers 3-2 lead
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Make it a double: Milwaukee had something brewing against Bailey in the fourth inning after successive one-out singles, but Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips put the brakes on that rally with an alert play. He noticed that Brewers left fielder Khris Davis was not running out of the batter's box on an infield flare, and since the umpires didn't deem the ball high enough to call "infield fly," Phillips let it drop and initiated an easy, inning-ending double play. Phillips then singled and scored in the next half-inning. More >
Video: CIN@MIL: Phillips thinks fast to turn two
Byrd's breakout blast: The veteran outfielder, hitless in his previous 12 at-bats and 1-for-25 since April 14, put the Reds up 2-1 with his first home run, sending an 0-1 pitch from Lohse over the center-field wall.
Video: CIN@MIL: Byrd jacks a two-run shot as Reds take lead
Ramirez rips one: In the bottom of the fifth inning, the veteran Brewers third baseman had the first bright spot of what he's said will be his final season. Ramirez, who began the day batting .157 and in the six-hole, connected with a Bailey fastball for his first home run of the season.
Video: CIN@MIL: Ramirez hits a solo home run to tie the game
Taking out insurance: The Brewers manufactured the go-ahead run in the seventh inning, and scored again in the eighth to give Rodriguez an extra run with which to work. With two outs, Ryan Braun stole third base, then went home when Reds third baseman Kristopher Negron dropped catcher Tucker Barnhart's throw. The error gave the Brewers a 4-2 lead.
Video: CIN@MIL: Braun steals and scores on a throwing error
Round number for K-Rod: Rodriguez recorded career save No. 350 with a harrowing finish to the series finale. When he surrendered a two-out double to Zack Cozart, it brought Joey Votto to the plate representing the tying run. Votto had reached safely in each of Cincinnati's first 15 games, but bounced out against Rodriguez to end that streak, and the game.
Video: CIN@MIL: Rodriguez induces groundout, Brewers win
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Ramirez's homer was the 370th of his career overall, and No. 366 as a third baseman. He trails Graig Nettles (368 home runs) for fifth all-time at the position.
CAUGHT STEALING
The Reds' streak of successful stolen bases to start the season ended at 17 when Billy Hamilton, the Major Leagues' leader with nine steals, was thrown out at second by Martin Maldonado to end the sixth inning. The 17-for-17 streak was the Reds' longest to start a season since those records started being kept in 1951. The last team to do that was the Twins in 2007, who went 19-for-19 to start the season. More >
Video: CIN@MIL: Brewers catch Hamilton stealing second
WHAT'S NEXT
Reds: Cincinnati returns home following an 11-day, 10-game road trip for a pair of three-game series, beginning with the Cubs on Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Mike Leake, who suffered a 2-1 complete-game loss in his last start, gets the nod for the Reds against Jon Lester, who is 0-2 with a 6.89 ERA.
Brewers: The Brewers stay home for Friday's rematch with the Cardinals, who took two of three games between the teams last week at Busch Stadium. Matt Garza carries a 5.40 ERA into his start against young Cardinals right-hander Carlos Martinez beginning at 7:10 p.m. CT.
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