GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: MILWAUKEE (71-68) at CINCINNATI (63-77)

Big first inning helps Reds sink Brewers

<h3>CINCINNATI 11, MILWAUKEE 4</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- It took just a short time for the joy toleave the Milwaukee Brewers.


The Cincinnati Reds used a six-run, first-inning outburst andcruised to an 11-4 victory over the Brewers on Friday.

Edwin Encarnacion and rookie Joey Votto each drove in two runsin the initial frame and Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 593rd homer aninning later for Cincinnati, which has won seven of 10 vs.Milwaukee - including five of seven here.


For the Brewers (71-69), it was a disappointing start afterregaining a piece of the National League Central lead with theChicago Cubs, who lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

Chicago (71-69) also lost, 6-1, to the Pittsburgh Pirates onFriday night, so both clubs are one-half game in front of theSt. Louis Cardinals (69-68), who face the Arizona Diamondbackslater Friday.


The road loss for Milwaukee was its seventh in eight games,which doesn't engender much confidence for a club that plays 13of its next 16 games away from home.


The Reds ended the night early for Brewers starter Dave Bush(11-10).


After Josh Hamilton led off the first with a double and AlexGonzalez hit single to put runners on second and third, Griffeyhit a run-scoring base hit to right field to start the splurge.Adam Dunn's RBI single to left to made it 2-0 and, two batterslater, Encarnacion also singled to left, driving in two more fora four-run advantage.


With runners on first and second and one out, Votto boomed adouble into the right-center field gap to give Cincinnati a 6-0lead. The score could have been more, but on Hamilton's singleto right, Votto was cut down at home plate by a relay throw fromfirst baseman Prince Fielder to Johnny Estrada.


More damage was done to Bush in the second. Gonzalez doubled tothe center field wall and Griffey hammered a 2-2 pitch deepover the right field wall to make it 8-0. It was the 30th homerfor the future Hall of Famer, giving him nine different seasonswith 30-plus blasts.


Mercifully, Bush was taken out of the contest after gettingshelled for a career-high eight runs and nine hits in one-plusinnings, the shortest start of his career.


Hamilton added an RBI single and Gonzalez a run-scoring doublein a two-run third off reliever Chris Capuano to increase thelead to 10-0.


Cincinnati scored its final run in the eighth on a solo shot byHamilton, who went 4-for-5 on the night.


The Reds made it a pretty easy win for Bronson Arroyo (8-14),who allowed three runs, five hits and a walk to gain his thirdwin in his last five starts.


Arroyo retired 10 in a row before Prince Fielder launched hisNational League-leading 42nd home run leading off the fifth.The Brewers turned a pair of singles and a pair of groundoutsinto a second run but Arroyo retired another nine straight.

That string was broken when Mike Rivera hit his first home runof the season with two out in the eighth.


Rookie Joe Dillon added an RBI single in the ninth for theBrewers, who were outhit, 13-7.

 

Big first inning helps Reds sink Brewers

<h3>CINCINNATI 11, MILWAUKEE 4</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- It took just a short time for the joy toleave the Milwaukee Brewers.


The Cincinnati Reds used a six-run, first-inning outburst andcruised to an 11-4 victory over the Brewers on Friday.

Edwin Encarnacion and rookie Joey Votto each drove in two runsin the initial frame and Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 593rd homer aninning later for Cincinnati, which has won seven of 10 vs.Milwaukee - including five of seven here.


Rookie Josh Hamilton had four hits, including his 19th homer toincrease his batting average to .297.


The 26-year-old outfielder was happy with his output despitecoping with the aches and pains of an entire season.

"I've been happy with the way the year has gone," Hamilton said."As far as my body, I have the normal aches and pains. Itactually helps me. I'm not trying to do to much or pulleverything. I'm taking the ball to left field. This is mylearning year."


For the Brewers (71-69), it was a disappointing start afterregaining a piece of the National League Central lead with theChicago Cubs, who lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

Chicago (71-69) also lost, 6-1, to the Pittsburgh Pirates onFriday night, so both clubs are one-half game in front of theSt. Louis Cardinals (69-68), who face the Arizona Diamondbackslater Friday.


The road loss for Milwaukee was its seventh in eight games,which doesn't engender much confidence for a club that plays 13of its next 16 games away from home.


The Reds ended the night early for Brewers starter Dave Bush(11-10).


After Hamilton led off the first with a double and Alex Gonzalezhit single to put runners on second and third, Griffey hit arun-scoring base hit to right field to start the splurge. AdamDunn's RBI single to left to made it 2-0 and, two batters later,Encarnacion also singled to left, driving in two more for afour-run advantage.


"I just got my butt kicked," Bush said. "Do you think I'mlooking at the scoreboard when I'm getting my butt Kicked?"

"(Bushy) had some help," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said.

Bush had a chance to get out of the first with just one run.Griffey's smash with runners at first and third could have beenfielded by Rickie Weeks, and Hardy threw too late to forceGriffey on Brandon Phillips' slow roller that would have beenthe third out.


With runners on first and second and one out, Votto boomed adouble into the right-center field gap to give Cincinnati a 6-0lead. The score could have been more, but on Hamilton's singleto right, Votto was cut down at home plate by a relay throw fromfirst baseman Prince Fielder to Johnny Estrada.


More damage was done to Bush in the second. Gonzalez doubled tothe center field wall and Griffey hammered a 2-2 pitch deepover the right field wall to make it 8-0. It was the 30th homerfor the future Hall of Famer, giving him nine different seasonswith 30-plus blasts.


Mercifully, Bush was taken out of the contest after gettingshelled for a career-high eight runs and nine hits in one-plusinnings, the shortest start of his career.


Hamilton added an RBI single and Gonzalez a run-scoring doublein a two-run third off reliever Chris Capuano to increase thelead to 10-0.


Cincinnati scored its final run in the eighth on a solo shot byHamilton, who went 4-for-5 on the night.


The Reds made it a pretty easy win for Bronson Arroyo (8-14),who allowed three runs, five hits and a walk in 7 2/3 innings togain his third win in his last five starts.


"Six runs in the first was beautiful, man," said Arroyo, who gotrun support of two runs or fewer in 12 starts this season. "Itallowed me to work to the fatter part of the plate and dothings that I might not have done."


Arroyo retired 10 in a row before Prince Fielder launched hisNational League-leading 42nd home run leading off the fifth. TheBrewers turned a pair of singles and a pair of groundouts intoa second run but Arroyo retired another nine straight.

That string was broken when Mike Rivera hit his first home runof the season with two out in the eighth.


"We had a lot of good efforts today," Cincinnati manager PeteMackanin said. "I was hoping Bronson would get a complete gamebut he looked tired. Bill Bray got some work that he needed."

Rookie Joe Dillon added an RBI single in the ninth for theBrewers, who were outhit, 13-7.