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Garza avoids loss in last start of season, Brewers beat Reds

Sep 5, 2015 - 10:13 PM CINCINNATI (AP) Matt Garza's self-described ''toughest'' season is coming to an end, not that he's ready for it to be over.

He doesn't have a choice. Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell revealed after an 8-6 win over Cincinnati in the opener of Saturday's day-night doubleheader that Garza's start was his last appearance of the season.

''It's not my decision. I didn't have any say. It is what it is,'' Garza said.''

The 31-year-old Garza is 6-14 with a 5.67 ERA. The Brewers rallied from a 5-1 deficit and Garza, who began the day tied with Philadelphia's Aaron Harang for the most losses in the majors, wound up with a no-decision.

''We're going to take a look at other guys,'' Counsell said. ''It's important to get Matt ready for the 2016 season. He's going to be part of the 2016 rotation.''

Counsell admitted Garza might be feeling beaten down mentally.

''It's not for health reasons,'' he said. ''Any time you struggle and you don't get the results you wanted, that's what happens,'' he said.

Garza gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings.

''This has been my toughest season, but that's all on me,'' Garza said. ''I'm the one who makes the pitches.''

Elian Herrera hit a tiebreaking home run on reliever J.J. Hoover's first pitch of the eighth. A day after the teams were rained out, the Brewers won their fifth in a row. They also have taken five straight at Cincinnati.

The Reds made it 6-all in the seventh against Jeremy Jeffress (5-0) on Skip Schumaker's bases-loaded double-play ball. Herrera then greeted Hoover (7-1) with his sixth homer of the season and first since Aug. 9.

Domingo Santana added a sacrifice fly in the ninth.

Will Smith pitched the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 34th save despite allowing one-out singles by Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips, who finished with four hits.

The Brewers overcame a 5-1 deficit by scoring five times in the sixth against John Lamb. Herrera had an RBI grounder and pinch hitter Adam Lind doubled to improve to .404 (19 for 47) with 16 RBIs against the Reds this season. Jean Segura capped the inning with a go-ahead single.

Lamb, one of three left-handers acquired by Cincinnati from Kansas City for ace Johnny Cueto in late July, gave up one run and four hits through the first five innings before wilting in the sixth.

''I was trying to execute pitches in the sixth inning,' Lamb said. ''They got themselves on base and that's all I've got to say about it. I'm disappointed with the results. I looked at the tape. There wasn't much more I could do with those pitches.''

Eugenio Suarez had three hits and drove in two runs while the Reds were building a 5-1 lead through five innings.

STREAK SNAPPED

C Jonathan Lucroy went 0 for 5 and his hitting streak ended at a career-high 11 games. He is tied with Lind for the second-longest among the Brewers this season behind Gerardo Parra's 14 games.

RUNNIN' RYAN

RF Ryan Braun stole two bases to push his season total to 22. Braun has four steals in his last four games after going 14 straight without swiping one.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Brewers: With the gametime temperature at a steamy 86 degrees, Garza needed 13 pitches to coax Reds leadoff batter Jason Bourgeois into popping up. Garza threw 96 pitches in less than five innings.

Reds: OF Brennan Boesch began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. The Reds placed Boesch on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 31 with a bruised bone in his right ankle.

UP NEXT

Brewers: In Saturday's second game, RHP Wily Peralta (5-8, 4.30) makes his first start since limiting Cincinnati to one run over seven innings of a 4-1 win last Sunday.

Reds: RHP Keyvius Sampson (2-2, 6.42) starts the second game. He's seeking his first win in four starts since beating the Dodgers 10-3 on Aug. 13.