Reds-Brewers - Series Recap

The Reds take two of three from the Brewers. The Crew finishes their six-game homestand 1-5.

Friday - Reds win 8-3: Sloppy. That is the best way to describe Friday's game for the Brewers. The Crew committed four errors, two of which came on one play. With the Reds already up 3-0 in the top of the seventh inning, Ken Griffey Jr. hit a groundball to third baseman Ryan Braun who threw wildly toward second base to try to throw out Jeff Keppinger. The ball ended up in right field where Gabe Gross picked it up and threw into foul territory down the third base line. Both Keppinger and Griffey scored on the play to give the Reds a five run lead.

Jeff Suppan started the game for the Brewers and threw five and two thirds innings while giving up four runs, three of which were earned. He picked up his tenth loss of the year. Reds starter Bronson Arroyo pitched seven and a third innings and gave up three runs to pick up the win. J.J. Hardy hit two homers for the Crew. The Brewers tried to battle back in the eighth inning. Down 6-1, the Brewers got solo homers from Hardy and Gabe Gross to pull within three runs. Then, Joe Dillon and Prince Fielder both reached to bring Braun to the plate as the tying run. However, Braun struck out and Jenkins flew out to end that threat. Adam Dunn hit a long two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to put the Reds up by five at 8-3.

Saturday - Brewers win 8-4: The Crew ended their five game losing streak with help from two three-homers. Gabe Gross hit the first of the three-game home runs in the third and Geoff Jenkins hit the other in the six inning. Claudio Vargas pitched five and two thirds innings and gave up one run to pick his tenth win of the season. Reds starter Elizardo Ramirez made his first of the season in the bigs. He pitched five innings and gave up three runs but was charged with the loss. Fielder and Braun each had RBI hits in the eighth inning to give the Brewers two more runs. Brandon Phillips was 3-5 with two runs scored for the Reds.

Sunday - Reds win 7-6: The Brewers had two leads in this game and blew them both. The Crew got out to a 5-0 lead behind homers by Braun, Bill Hall and Fielder. The Reds got two-run home runs from Dunn and Phillips to pull within one. Jeff Conine hit a sac fly that scored Dunn in the sixth inning to tie the game at five. Dunn was hit by a pitch to reach first and then got to third on two wild pitches from Brewers starter Chris Capuano. J.J. Hardy hit a solo homer to give the Brewers the lead in the seventh inning. But, that lead would not last as well. Javier Valentin hit a two-run double off Scott Linebrink that scored Dunn and Conine to give the Reds a 7-6 lead. That would be enough for the Reds to win the game. Linebrink picked up the loss for the Brewers. Dave Weathers picked up the save for the Reds by pitching out of a jam in the ninth inning. He got Fielder to ground out with two runners on to end the game.

Capuano started for the Brewers and pitched five solid innings but then ran into trouble in the sixth inning. He ended up throwing six and a third innings and gave up five runs. Capuano was charged with a no-decision so his ten-game losing streak continues. Also, the Brewers lost their 16th straight game that Capauno started. Red starter Aaron Harang settled down after giving up five runs in the first three innings. Harang threw six and two thirds innings and gave up six runs. He also received a no-decision. Bill Bray picked up the win for the Reds.