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Freel gets four hits as Reds top Brewers

Apr 18, 2007 - 6:16 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Brandon Phillips delivered the clutch blow, but it was a pregame decision by Ryan Freel that may have helped most.

Phillips' two-out RBI single in the seventh inning tied the game and a bases-loaded walk to Alex Gonzalez opened the floodgates as the Cincinnati Reds pulled out an 11-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

Freel had four hits and scored three times and Josh Hamilton had two runs and two hits for Cincinnati, which outhit Milwaukee, 15-8.

The Reds had scored just three runs in its last three games but exploded when Freel, who signed a two-year contract extension on Monday, volunteered to move from center field to third base to allow Hamilton to play.

"I loved what (Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron) did with the lineup putting Hamilton second," said Freel, who played third base for the first time since last July. "This guy is going to be just what we need."

"I told Freel during batting practice, 'We're 1-2, me and you. Let's tear it up,'" Hamilton said.

A Rule V pick in December from Tampa Bay who has played just 15 games in the minor leagues over the last four years because of drug-related suspensions, is batting .318 with three homers and seven RBI.

After Freel singled to lead off the seventh against Carlos Villanueva, Hamilton singled off fellow lefthander Brian Shouse (0-1). Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. struck out before Phillips plated Freel with a base hit to left off Greg Aquino.

"Just like Bill Hall finds a way to beat them, Brandon Phillips always finds a way to beat us," Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. "Aquino's been getting the job done lately but didn't get it done tonight."

Phillips is hitting .402 with 16 RBI against Milwaukee in his two National League seasons.

"We've been struggling a little on offense," Narron said. "I think it was the weather. It was nice to see us break out."

After a wild pitch and an intentional walk to Scott Hatteberg to load the bases, Aquino walked Gonzalez to give the Reds a 6-5 lead.

"Hatteberg's killed us. I liked the matchup with Gonzalez better," Yost said.

Javier Valentin then delivered a bases-loaded single for two RBI and Gonzalez scored on an error by center fielder Hall.

"Our command is off right now," Yost said. "We've been throwing too many pitches over the fat part of the plate. With a club like that you have to be very careful. You can't make mistake after mistake after mistake and come out on the good end of the ballgame."

Mike Stanton (1-0) tossed two hitless innings with three strikeouts to gain the win for the Reds.

Hall had three hits and scored twice for the Brewers. He is a .319 hitter against Cincinnati for his career with 14 home runs and 42 RBI.

Cincinnati starter Matt Belisle, who was excellent in his first two starts, struggled mightily, allowing five runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings. He entered allowing two runs and seven hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in 12 strikeouts in winning his first two starts.

Milwaukee starter Dave Bush, who entered having yielded 13 runs, 14 hits and four homers over seven innings in two starts at Great American Ball Park, yielded four runs and eight hits in five frames.

"Bush didn't have good command but battled through it," Yost said.