Recap: Cincinnati vs. Milwaukee
Sports Network | September 20, 2008
Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Micah Owings' two-run, pinch-hit single in the sixth proved to be the game-winner as the Cincinnati Reds downed the struggling Milwaukee Brewers, 4-3, in the second of three games at the Great American Ball Park.
Joey Votto went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored while Johnny Cueto (9-13) pitched six innings and gave up two runs on six hits with four strikeouts for the Reds, who have won six of their last seven.
Rickie Weeks went 3-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI while CC Sabathia (9-2) dropped his second straight start after giving up four runs -- one earned -- on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings for the free-falling Brewers, who have dropped eight of their last nine and had one entrance to the playoffs slammed shut on Saturday.
Chicago defeated St. Louis earlier on Saturday to clinch the NL Central.
Milwaukee's only hope of making the postseason now is to get in as the wild card, but that is looking less likely as the club has gone just 4-15 in September and now trails Philadelphia by 2 1/2 games for the wild card spot.
Cincinnati struck in the first inning on three consecutive singles by Jerry Hairston Jr., Jeff Keppinger and Votto, with the last one scoring Hairston for a 1-0 lead.
In the fourth inning Milwaukee grabbed the lead. Ryan Braun led off with a single and Prince Fielder followed with a double to right to score Braun. After J.J. Hardy grounded out, Corey Hart singled to center and Fielder attempted to score, but was thrown out at the plate. Weeks, though, followed with a triple to score Hart for a 2-1 lead.
The Reds, though, took the lead back in the sixth inning. Votto led off with a single, Andy Phillips followed with a walk and Jay Bruce followed with a bunt that Fielder misplayed to load the bases. After the next two batters recorded outs, Owings followed with a two-run single and Adam Rosales then singled to bring home another run for a 4-2 lead.
The Brewers threatened in the eighth as Hardy hit a two-out triple, but Hart flied out to end the inning.
Francisco Cordero started on the mound in the ninth and got into trouble. Weeks led off with a solo home run and Jason Kendall followed with a single. Tony Gwynn Jr. failed to move the runner up as he lined out to left and Mike Cameron followed with a strikeout. Mike Lamb then reached base as his grounder to short was misplayed by Keppinger and Braun then walked to load the bases. Cordero, though, struck out Fielder to end the game and pick up his 32nd save of the season.
Sabathia has dropped his past two starts after winning his past 12 decisions...The Reds are 10-7 versus the Brewers this season...Milwaukee left 10 men on base...Attendance was 24,440...Sabathia fell to 4-1 in 11 career starts versus the Reds...Cueto was 0-2 over his previous four starts coming into the game.
