Andrew Vaughn recorded a pinch-hit, bases-clearing double in the seventh inning, fueling the visiting Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.
William Contreras highlighted his three-hit performance by launching a two-run homer in the third inning. Jake Bauers followed with his team-leading 14th homer of the season to stake Milwaukee to an early 3-0 lead.
Blake Dunn had an RBI double in the sixth inning to put Cincinnati on the scoreboard, however Vaughn stepped up as a pinch hitter and ripped a ball down the third-base line.
Chad Patrick (5-3) relieved starter Shane Drohan and allowed one run on one hit in 1 2/3 innings for the first-place Brewers, who have won four in a row overall and improved to 11-3 against National League Central representatives. Cincinnati, in turn, fell to 2-16 versus its division rivals.
Eugenio Suarez added an RBI double in the seventh inning and Sal Stewart drove in a run in the eighth before Spencer Steer belted a two-run homer for the Reds.
Joel Kuhnel relieved Craig Yoho and induced Noelvi Marte to ground out to end the eighth inning. Kuhnel loaded the bases in the ninth inning before inducing Dane Myers to ground into a game-ending double play to secure his sixth save of the season.
Kuhnel received the opportunity because Abner Uribe was serving his one-game suspension for his crotch-chopping celebration
Jackson Chourio had a one-out single in the third inning and came around to score after Contreras deposited a 1-0 sinker from Rhett Lowder (3-5) just over the wall in center field. Contreras’ homer was his eighth of the season and second in his last four games.
Bauers capped a six-pitch at-bat by sending a changeup well over the wall in right-center field for his first since June 12.
The Reds got on the board in the sixth inning after Dunn sent the ball just inside the right-field foul line, plating Marte.
Suarez’s double trimmed the deficit to 6-2, however Craig Yoho induced JJ Bleday to ground out to first base with the bases loaded to end the seventh inning.
Lowder permitted three runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings after a career-high 100 pitches to see his winless stretch extend to seven games.
