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Reds jump on Brewers early in win

Apr 26, 2011 - 5:07 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Jay Bruce's two-run homer highlighted a six- run third inning, as the Cincinnati Reds earned an easy 9-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the first of a three-game set from Miller Park.

Brandon Phillips went 3-for-4, drove in three runs and scored twice, while Ryan Hanigan added two RBI.

Bronson Arroyo (3-2) allowed two runs -- one earned -- in 6 1/3 innings to grab the win.

Chris Narveson (1-1) was chased after just 2 1/3, allowing seven runs on eight hits. He made the start despite suffering from cold/flu-like symptoms a day earlier.

"I don't want to make excuses," said Narveson. "I wanted to go out there for the team. I made some mistakes. I just wasn't able to keep the ball down."

After taking a 1-0 lead off a Hanigan RBI in the second, the Reds exploded in the top of the third. Joey Votto doubled following Bruce's homer and Phillips brought him in with a single to center. A Johnny Gomes single then scored Phillips, as the Reds opened the inning with five straight hits.

Miguel Cairo ended the parade of base runners with a flyout to center, but Hanigan continued the onslaught, ripping a double to left, scoring Gomes in the process and forcing Narveson from the game.

"It's always fun to get that many runs early," said Arroyo. "It makes it easier to pitch with a big lead."

Reliever Brandon Kintzler temporarily halted the bleeding with a strikeout of Paul Janish, but allowed Arroyo to help himself with an RBI single to center. After a Drew Stubbs single placed runners on first and second, Bruce flied out to right to end the inning. Cincinnati held a comfortable 7-0 lead which it never relinquished.

Milwaukee tried in vain to chip away at the insurmountable lead, getting one back in the fifth as Jonathan Lucroy scored on a throwing error by Janish. In the seventh, the Brewers added another when Carlos Gomez's sacrifice fly brought home Craig Counsell. Lucroy added an RBI in the eighth, singling to center to bring in Casey McGehee.

Phillips added two of his game-high three RBI in the eight, driving in Stubbs and Bruce with a single to center and padding the Reds' lead in the process.

Ryan Braun's one-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth proved inconsequential, as Jordan Smith got Prince Fielder to fly out to left and McGehee to ground out to third to end the game.

Game Notes

McGehee collided with first baseman Votto in the game's final play, appearing to injure his hand in the process...Braun has reached base safely in each of the team's first 22 games, one shy of the franchise record...Narveson's start proved to be the shortest of his career...Milwaukee was 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position...Both teams have split their last six games.