Phillips pushes Reds past Brewers

Sep 15, 2007, 3:07 GMT

Milwaukee, WI - Brandon Phillips went 2-for-3 and knocked in three runs to lead the Cincinnati Reds past the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-5, at Miller Park.

Adam Dunn finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a two-run homer while Norris Hopper collected three hits and scored twice for the Reds, who have won four straight and six of their last eight overall.

Cincinnati starter Tom Shearn (3-0) gave up three runs on four hits in 6 2/3 innings. Bill Bray served up a two-out, two-run homer to Mike Rivera in the ninth, but got Kevin Mench to foul out to end the game and pick up his first save of the season.

'He (Shearn) pitched extremely well and kept us in the game,' said Cincinnati manager Pete Mackanin.

Ben Sheets (12-5) started and lasted just three innings after getting roughed up for five runs on six hits for the Brewers, who have lost two straight and three of their last four to trail Chicago by 1 1/2 games in the NL Central. The Cubs defeated the Cardinals, 5-3, on Friday.

'Sheets just had trouble with his command tonight,' said Milwaukee manager Ned Yost. 'On the other side, that young pitcher for them pitched just a great game.'

Prince Fielder hit his 45th home run of the season, a two-run shot, while Corey Hart had two hits and two runs scored.

'Hopefully things will turn around tomorrow, that is all I can say,' said Fielder.

The visitors jumped on Sheets early, scoring four runs in the first. Hopper singled to open the game and Jeff Keppinger walked. With one out, Hopper and Keppinger executed a double steal and scored on Phillips' base hit to left. Dunn then launched a two-run homer just over the wall in right.

Cincinnati made it 5-0 in the second after manufacturing a run. Hopper led the inning off with a single and stole second. Keppinger then legged out an infield single. With one out, Phillips lofted a sacrifice fly to center to plate Hopper.

The Brewers got on the board in the fourth after Fielder crushed a two-run homer to deep center to make it 5-2.

Milwaukee pulled to within two runs in the seventh as Johnny Estrada's two-out single to center scored Hart, who doubled earlier in the frame.

In the eighth, the Reds regained their three-run lead as Dunn hit a ground- rule double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Edwin Encarnacion's sac-fly.

Game Notes

Dunn has 39 home runs on the year...Cincinnati had 11 hits while Milwaukee ended with six...The Reds stole five bases, tying a season high...Brewers outfielder Geoff Jenkins was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing balls and strikes...Earlier Friday, Milwaukee announced that outfielder Andrew Lefave was the player to be named later to complete the September 4 trade that brought pitcher Ray King to the Brewers from the Washington Nationals.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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