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Miscues by Brewers help Reds to victory

Jul 12, 2008 - 4:33 AM By David Cotey PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Reds took advantage of every mistake the Milwaukee Brewers made.

Edwin Encarnacion had three hits and rookie Jay Bruce scored the eventual winning run on a wild pitch in the eighth inning as the Reds defeated the Brewers, 6-5, at Miller Park on Friday.

Half of the Reds' runs were unearned as the Brewers committed three errors and threw three wild pitches in losing for the third time in five games.

"The errors were on tough plays, you make them or you don't," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "We didn't."

With the bases loaded and the game tied at 5-5 in the eighth, Brewers reliever Salomon Torres unleashed a wild pitch with Jerry Hairston Jr. at the plate, allowing Bruce to score from third. The unearned run was charged to Brian Shouse (3-1), who retired just one of the three batters he faced.

"You have to (take advantage)," Bruce said. "That's how good teams stay on top. I think and consider us a good team and we're starting to get on a roll.

"We're playing well right just before the All-Star break. We can get some momentum, go home and come back ready to play. You have to take advantage of everything because you see it all the time. Little things hurt you the most."

Friday's victory was a stark contrast to Thursday when the Reds hit seven home runs in a 12-5 win over the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs.

"This is a crazy game and crazy things happen," Bruce added. "You've just got to always execute as well as you can and some things are just going to take care of themselves."

Mike Lincoln (1-2) pitched a 1-2-3 seventh to notch the win. David Weathers hurled a scoreless eighth before Francisco Cordero worked around a one-out walk in the ninth to record his 19th save of the season.

"The job our bullpen did to hold (Milwaukee) down was outstanding," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "A one-run lead in this park doesn't mean much."

Reds starter Josh Fogg, who entered with an 8.39 ERA, allowed three runs and just one hit - a solo homer by Ryan Braun in the first - while striking out a season-high six in 5 1/3 innings.

"I felt like I commanded the ball well," Fogg said. "I got ahead of guys. That's kind of the key to my success. If I'm getting ahead, I've got a pretty good chance. If I'm falling behind, it's going to be a long day."

Counterpart Manny Parra was denied a chance for his eighth straight win after allowing five runs - three earned - and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

"It's probably the best I've thrown all year, in my opinion, until the seventh inning," Parra said. "I don't know if I got more adrenaline or what in that frame, but I just didn't make a pitch."

Parra, who struck out six, has not lost since May 3.

David Ross and Andy Phillips knocked in runs during a three-run seventh inning for the Reds, who won for the ninth time in 13 games.

Bill Hall delivered a two-run double in a four-run sixth for the Brewers.