Reds-Brewers - Series Recap

The Brewers took two of three from the Reds at Miller Park this past weekend. The Cubs took three of four in their series with the Cardinals in St. Louis.

Friday - Reds win 6-5: The Reds knocked around Brewers starter Ben Sheets right from the get go. Brandon Phillips knocked in Norris Hopper and Jeff Keppinger to make the score 2-0 Reds. Keppinger and Hopper ended up at second and third for Phillips after a double steal attempt was successful. Adam Dunn batted next and hit a two-run homer to right field to make it 4-0 Reds with one out. The Reds stole a total of four bases in the first inning. All five stolen bases by the Reds in the game came when Sheets was pitching. Johnny Estrada has struggled this year throwing out base runners but in this case Estrada made a few good throws but Sheets was too slow to the plate. The Reds picked up another run in the second inning and Sheets would only last three innings. He was charged with the loss as he gave up five runs on six hits and threw just 50 pitches.

The Brewers tried to battle back against Reds starter Tom Shearn. Prince Fielder tied the team record for homers in a season in the fourth inning with a two-run blast. Estrada picked an RBI single in the seventh to bring the Brewers within two. Shearn got the win by going six and two thirds innings and giving up four hits and three runs. The Reds picked up what turned out to be a very important insurance run against Brewers reliever Mitch Stetter in the eighth inning. That's because Mike Rivera hit a two-run homer in the ninth to make it 6-5 Reds. But, the Brewers would get no closer as Kevin Mench fouled out to end the game.

Saturday - Brewers win 5-3: The Brewers picked up two runs in the first inning against Reds starter Kirk Saarloos. Ryan Braun had an RBI ground out and Geoff Jenkins picked up an RBI single in the inning. The Reds cut the lead in half in the second inning with a RBI single from Joey Votto. Prince Fielder then set the single season record for homers in the third inning with a solo shot. Fielder passed Gorman Thomas and Richie Sexson (he did it twice) who had 45 home runs in seasons for the Brewers. Damian Miller picked up an RBI single in the fifth inning to make 4-1 Brewers.

Hopper brought the Reds within two in the seventh inning with a RBI double that scored Buck Coats who reached on a walk. Jeff Suppan left the game with Hopper on third base and one out in the inning. Brian Shouse came in face to Ken Griffey Jr. and got him to pop out. Scott Linebrink relieved Shouse and gave up an RBI single to Phillips that scored Hopper. Ray King was called on to face Dunn and struck him out to end the inning. Derrick Turnbow started the top of the eighth inning with two outs but then walked two batters and was pulled for Francisco Cordero who finished the inning with a strikeout of Hopper. J.J. Hardy hit a solo homer to give the Brewers an insurance run going into the ninth inning. Cordero pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to finish off his save and the win for the Crew. Suppan got the win for the Brewers, his tenth of the season.

Sunday - Brewers win 5-2: The Brewers got on top first in this game as well with two runs in the third inning. Joe Dillon hit a two-run two-out double that scored Rickie Weeks and Craig Counsell. Then in the fifth inning, Dillon came up with another two-out two-run double that scored Bill Hall and Counsell. Fielder came up next with an RBI opposite field single that scored Dillon to make it 5-0 Brewers. Matt Belisle struck out nine for the Reds but gave up five runs in six innings of work to get the loss. Carlos Villanueva pitched seven scoreless innings to pick up his eighth win of the year. Cordero had to make another four-out save as Matt Wise and Shouse could get out of the eighth inning. He did the job and picked up his 43rd save of the season.