Recap: Milwaukee vs. Cincinnati
Sports Network | September 10, 2008
Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Mike Cameron singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Milwaukee Brewers rallied past the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3, in the finale of a three-game series from Miller Park.
CC Sabathia tossed seven solid innings for the Brewers, but came away with a no-decision. He gave up three runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts and one walk to run his unbeaten streak to 18 consecutive starts. Sabathia also doubled and drove in a run for Milwaukee, which closed out a 10-game homestand with an abysmal 3-7 mark. Guillermo Mota (5-5) picked up the win after tossing a perfect eighth.
Jerry Hairston Jr. clubbed a three-run homer for the Reds, who had a three- game winning streak snapped.
Bronson Arroyo did not receive a decision after allowing two unearned runs on five hits in seven innings of work. He had won his last four starts. David Weathers (2-6) absorbed the loss, tagged for two runs on his lone inning of relief.
Though the Brewers dropped last night's test, their third straight, they remained 4 1/2 games behind the Cubs (lost to St. Louis on Tuesday) for first place in the National League Central and three games up on the Phillies (lost to Florida) for the NL Wild Card spot.
Trailing 3-2, the Brewers plated two runs in the eighth to forge ahead. Weathers started the inning for Cincinnati and J.J. Hardy greeted him with a grounder up the middle. After Ryan Braun walked, Prince Fielder singled to load the bases for Tony Gwynn, who rolled into a 4-6-3 double play, scoring Hardy. Cameron then delivered with an RBI single to left for a 4-3 Brewers lead.
Salomon Torres struck out the side in the ninth to notch his 27th save.
After fanning Joey Votto to get out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the third, Sabathia put the Brewers on the board in the bottom half with the help of a Jay Bruce throwing miscue. Craig Counsell drew a leadoff walk and Jason Kendall lined out softly to Bruce, who made an ill-advised throwing attempting to double up Counsell at first. However, the rookie right-fielder's throw bounced over the Brewers dugout and into the stands, allowing Counsell to advance to third. An RBI groundout by the burly left-hander gave the Brewers early edge.
Cincinnati, though, seized the lead in the fifth on Hairston's third home run of the season. Andy Phillips and Ryan Hanigan singled to open the frame. After Arroyo went down swinging, Hairston unloaded on a 1-1 pitch and deposited the offering in the left-field seats for a 3-1 Reds advantage.
The Brewers loaded the bases with one out in the home half on a single by Counsell, a two-base hit from Sabathia and a walk to Ray Durham. Hardy then bounced into a 5-4-3 twin-killing to wipe out the rally.
Milwaukee pulled to within a run in the seventh. Cameron led off with a walk and took second on a Counsell ground out before Kendall beat out a chopper to deep short for a hit. On the play, Jeff Keppinger's throw sailed wide of first base, allowing Cameron to score.
Sabathia has not lost since June 5 at Texas...Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips will miss the rest of the season with a broken right index finger sustained in Tuesday's 5-4 victory...Before the game, Milwaukee claimed pitcher Todd Coffey off waivers from Cincinnati and designated outfielder Laynce Nix for assignment...At 83-63, the Brewers matched their win total from last year...Milwaukee right fielder Gabe Kapler exited the game with a right shoulder strain after making a throw to the plate in the sixth inning. He was replaced by Gwynn...The Brewers embark on a 10-game road trip beginning Thursday with a critical four-game set in Philadelphia...Cincinnati opens a three-game series Friday in Arizona.
