Reds 2 - 1 Brewers
Final
  for this game

Reds edge Brewers

Aug 16, 2013 - 5:31 AM Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Joey Votto's tie-breaking, solo homer in the sixth proved to be the difference, as the Cincinnati Reds edged the Milwaukee Brewers, 2-1, Thursday in the opener of a four-game series at Miller Park.

Devin Mesoraco scored the other run and collected two of Cincinnati's six hits to help the Reds secure their fifth straight victory.

Tony Cingrani (6-2) struck out nine while holding the Brewers to one run on four hits and a walk over 6 1/3 frames to earn the victory. Aroldis Chapman worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to nail down his 30th save.

"I just tried to go out there and give the team the best opportunity to win," Cingrani said.

Kyle Lohse (8-8) was a hard-luck loser, giving up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and four walks over seven strong innings.

Khris Davis stroked his fifth homer of the season to account for Milwaukee's offense, as the Brewers dropped their second straight contest.

Davis crushed a two-out blast the opposite way in the second to get the Brewers on the board, but the Reds responded with a run in the fifth to tie the game.

Mesoraco started the inning with a grounder up the middle that second baseman Jeff Bianchi corralled, but his throw to first pulled Juan Francisco off the bag.

Mesoraco collided with Francisco on the play and as the ball trickled through the infield, Mesoraco raced into second.

The heads-up play from Mesoraco loomed large, as Zack Cozart followed with a single to center to score Mesoraco and tie the game at 1-1.

Votto then put the Reds in front in the sixth when he led off the frame with a towering drive into straightaway center field to make it 2-1.

"It wasn't a very good one," Lohse said of the pitch to Votto. "I didn't quite get the grip and I just tried to throw it down and away and it just didn't have any life on it."

Milwaukee threatened in the seventh, as Jonathan Lucroy led off with a single before Aramis Ramirez worked a walk.

Cingrani then got Logan Schafer to pop out into foul territory on a bunt attempt before being removed in favor of Sam LeCure, who got Davis to bounce into a 1-4-3 inning-ending double play to escape the frame unscathed.

Manny Parra and Jonathan Broxton combined to keep the Brewers off the board in the eighth before Chapman shut the door in the ninth.

Game Notes

Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez left the game with a right knee sprain in the top of the fourth inning after crashing into the wall while making a catch on Brandon Phillips' fly out ... Reds pitchers have recorded at least 10 strikeouts for the fifth straight game, one shy of the team record set in April ... Lohse played with the Reds across parts of two seasons in 2006 and 2007, winning nine of 26 decisions in 33 appearances ... Milwaukee finished 0- for-4 with runners in scoring position.






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