Brewers 3 - 5 Reds
Final
  for this game

Reds win, eliminate Brewers from playoff chase

Sep 25, 2014 - 10:38 PM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer and scored twice as Cincinnati claimed a 5-3 victory over Milwaukee in the rubber match of a three-game series, eliminating the Brewers from playoff contention.

Jay Bruce finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and run scored for the Reds, who also received two hits and on RBI from Yorman Rodriguez.

David Holmberg (2-2) allowed two runs and three hits over six efficient innings. Aroldis Chapman earned his 35th save with a perfect ninth.

"I'm getting more confident every time I'm out there," Holmberg said of his third straight start of at least six full frames. "I'm going out and attacking guys."

Rickie Weeks ended up 2-for-3 with a solo shot for the Brewers, whose loss clinched the last NL playoff spot for the San Francisco Giants.

Yovani Gallardo (8-11) was tagged for 10 hits and five runs -- three earned -- over five-plus frames.

"I thought we were going to play well today and were sloppy," noted Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke, who presided over his club's swift fall from NL Central leaders thanks to an 8-20 record since Aug. 25.

The Reds scored twice in the fifth to assume the lead for good thanks to some defensive mistakes by their foes. Brayan Pena singled, but was erased on a fielder's choice after Milwaukee first baseman Jason Rogers flubbed Frazier's liner. Jay Bruce doubled to put two in scoring position, then a Weeks error on a Ryan Ludwick chance and bloop hit to short right by Rodriguez made it 3-2.

Jason Bourgeois singled to start the bottom of the sixth and Phillips' long homer to right gave the hosts a 5-2 edge while signaling Gallardo's exit.

In the seventh, Weeks, Lyle Overbay and Jean Segura opened the frame with hits against Sam LeCure and a run scored when pinch-hitter Scooter Gennett hit into a 4-6-3 double play. Carlos Gomez walked and Jumbo Diaz entered to induce a rally-killing groundout by Ryan Braun.

Diaz turned the Brewers away in turn in the eighth, then Chapman officially closed out Milwaukee's 2014 playoff hopes in the ninth.

"We were in the driver's seat for a while and then got complacent. Now this is where we're at," said Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy. "We got what we deserved. We've got to play better."

Weeks crushed an offering to deep center with two down in the second, then Cincinnati equalized in the home third. Phillips singled, was sacrificed to second, advanced on a wild pitch and came in on a two-out hit from Bruce.

Milwaukee moved ahead in the fourth as a Khris Davis fly to left plated Lucroy one play after a grounder from Aramis Ramirez to short erased Braun at home.

Game Notes

Cincinnati took 10 of 19 games from Milwaukee, including seven of 10 at home ... Milwaukee became the fifth team in MLB's divisional era to spent at least 150 days in first place and fail to secure a playoff berth ... The Reds complete their 2014 slate by hosting playoffs-bound Pittsburgh and the Brewers welcome the Cubs to close out the season. Both series begin on Friday.






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