• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Valentin comes through in a pinch, caps Reds' rally

Aug 19, 2007 - 10:13 PM MILWAUKEE (Ticker) - Javier Valentin's pinch-hit double plated two runs in the eighth inning as the Cincinnati Reds rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 7-6, on Sunday.

The hit extended Valentin's hit streak to 10 games but thwarted Milwaukee's attempt to pull into a tie with the Chicago Cubs atop the National League Central Division.

"I feel like I'm a better hitter in that situation," Valentin said. "I'm more concentrated, I was aggressive, maybe that's why I've been successful in that situation."

The Brewers (63-61), who amassed a five-run lead on the strength of three early home runs - including Prince Fielder's NL-leading 38th home run in the third - fell one full game behind the Cubs (63-59). Chicago plays the St. Louis Cardinals later on Sunday.

Valentin's hit came off Brewers reliever Scott Linebrink (4-4), who allowed two runs on three hits in one inning to take the loss.

"I couldn't seem to recover after getting the first guy out," Linebrink said. "I couldn't be too careful with Valentin, I had to throw him strikes."

Bill Bray (2-0), who came on in relief of Cincinnati starter Aaron Harang, was credited with the win after pitching just one-third of an inning. After Jared Burton pitched one inning, David Weathers got the final three outs in the ninth for his 25th save.

"Weathers made it interesting there but we're all going home happy," Reds interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "We just kept chipping back and I couldn't have predicted the outcome of this one - but I'm extremely happy with it."

Milwaukee started the scoring in the second on the strength of Ryan Braun's solo homer and Bill Hall's two-run shot.

After Fielder's blast pushed the lead to five runs, the Reds (54-69) chipped away with two-run homers in both the fourth and sixth innings.

"It's been happening to us a lot, hasn't it," Fielder said. "We get six runs off their ace, that makes it doubly hard to take."

Adam Dunn belted his fourth home run in the last five games - and 34th of the season - in the fourth inning. Brandon Phillips also drove in a pair with his sixth-inning home run, while Jeff Conine's sacrifice fly capped the three-run frame and tied the score at 5-5.

Milwaukee responded with the long ball again, courtesy of J.J. Hardy, who was celebrating his 25th birthday on Sunday.

Hardy belted a solo home run to give the Brewers a 6-5 lead in the seventh inning. In just five starts in the No. 8 spot in the lineup, Hardy has 10 hits, including five home runs and six RBI.

On Sunday, it wasn't enough to overcome the hole Chris Capuano and the bullpen created.

"I'm frustrated for all of us," Brewers manager Ned Yost said. "We have to find a way to win again, this coming road trip is critical."

Both team's starters - Cincinnati's Harang and Milwaukee's Chris Capuano - had their difficulties, a far cry from their previous outing against each other.

On Sunday, Harang allowed six runs on nine hits in 6 2/3 innings, while Capuano allowed five runs on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings. Each pitcher struck out eight but neither factored in the decision.

"It was just one of those days where I felt like I couldn't get into a rhythm," Harang said. "I knew I didn't have my best stuff today, and it doesn't always happen this way, but we were able to come back."

On July 23, the two starters faced each other in Cincinnati. Harang went a career-high 10 innings and struck out 10 while Capuano went eight innings and struck out seven.

"I'm giving it all I can and that's all I can do," Capuano said. "It really was a tough loss, especially since we were swinging the bats so well."