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Amid troubles Leake takes the ball against Brewers

Apr 26, 2011 - 2:46 PM (Sports Network) - An alleged theft and pending jail time hasn't prevented Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mike Leake from being successful at his full-time job.

Leake, who was charged earlier this month with misdemeanor theft at a Macy's store in downtown Cincinnati, will try to stay unbeaten Tuesday night in the middle test of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Leake reportedly took nearly $60 in clothes from the store before he was caught on security cameras and booked into the local jail. The charge carries a maximum jail term of 180 days, a stretch that would surely alter Cincinnati's rotation.

The young right-hander has already apologized for the distraction and improved to 3-0 in four starts with last Thursday's 7-4 win versus Arizona. Leake allowed three runs and four hits with six strikeouts in seven innings, and lowered his ERA slightly from 5.40 to 4.94. He went 8-4 as a rookie last year, starting in 22 of his 24 appearances.

Cincinnati has won three of five games and opened this series with Monday's 9-5 win. Jay Bruce homered and Brandon Phillips collected three hits and three runs batted in for the Reds, who got three hits and two runs scored from Drew Stubbs and a winning performance out of starter Bronson Arroyo.

Arroyo lasted 6 1/3 innings on the hill, allowing two runs -- one earned -- and six hits with four strikeouts and two walks. The righty was pleased to see his teammates put up a six-spot in the third inning.

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

Milwaukee entered the game with four wins in six games, but a shaky effort from starting pitcher Chris Narveson ruined any chances of continued success.

Narveson was drilled for seven runs -- six in the third -- and eight hits in only 2 1/3 innings.

"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."

Ryan Braun homered and Jonathan Lucroy added two hits and an RBI for the Brewers, while Prince Fielder was 0-for-4 at the plate. Braun's streak of reaching base safely in each of the team's first 22 games is the second- longest streak in team history to start a campaign. The mark to begin a season is 23 by Robin Yount back in 1983.

Marco Estrada will try to get Milwaukee in gear when he takes the ball tonight and is 1-0 with a 3.21 earned run average in four games (2 starts) this season. Estrada, who won his 2011 debut versus Atlanta on April 6, has recorded three straight no-decisions since.

Estrada last pitched in Friday's 14-7 drubbing of Houston at Miller Park and struck out one batter in a perfect inning of relief. The righty pitched well in his last start on April 17 against Washington with a run over six innings. He has made one relief appearance against the division-rival Reds.

The Reds have won six in a row, including all four this season, and 19 of the last 22 meetings with Milwaukee.