Sep 16, 2007, 21:37 GMT
Milwaukee, WI - Carlos Villanueva tossed seven scoreless innings and Joe Dillon drove in a career-best four runs to lead the Milwaukee Brewers past the Cincinnati Reds, 5-2, in the finale of a three-game series at Miller Park.
Villanueva (8-4) scattered six hits over his quality outing while striking out four and walking three for Milwaukee, which remains one game behind Chicago for the NL Central lead. Chicago beat St. Louis 4-2 on Sunday.
'Villanueva's fastball was off today but he had great command of other pitches and was able to keep them off balance,' said Brewers manager Ned Yost.
Prince Fielder added an RBI in a winning cause.
Matt Belisle (8-9) surrendered five runs on six hits over six frames while tying a career high with nine strikeouts for the Reds, who have dropped two in a row since winning four straight.
Adam Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion each knocked in a run for Cincinnati.
The Brewers put up a pair of runs in the third to move out in front. Rickie Weeks drew a two-out walk and Craig Counsell followed with a single before Dillon brought them both in with a double to right.
The home team added a three-spot in the fifth to assume a 5-0 lead. Counsell was hit by a pitch to put runners on the corners, and Dillon came through with his second two-run double of the game. Fielder followed with an RBI single to cap the surge.
The Reds finally got on the board in the eighth. Dunn pushed the first run across with an RBI groundout, and Encarnacion followed with a single that scored Brandon Phillips to bring Cincinnati within 5-2.
Francisco Cordero effectively worked the last 1 1/3 innings, however, to notch his 43rd save and preserve the all-important win for the Brewers.
'We're not watching the scoreboard to see how the Cubs and Cards are doing,' Cordero said. 'We're concentrating on our own game.'
Game Notes
Belisle was 3-0 with three no-decisions in his last six starts coming in...Fielder extended his hitting streak to 14 games...Dillon's previous high for RBI in a game was just one...The Reds still captured the season series, 8-7.
© 2007 The Sports Network
Game Notes.
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