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Hamilton, Simon lift Reds over Brewers

Jul 5, 2014 - 5:13 AM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Billy Hamilton's two-run homer helped the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the opener of a three-game set.

Skip Schumaker finished with three hits and an RBI and Joey Votto supplied a run-scoring double for the Reds, who snapped a three-game skid.

Reds starter Alfredo Simon (11-3) won his fifth straight decision after tossing a solid 7 1/3 innings, surrendering just two runs on six hits with three strikeouts. His 11 wins are tied for most in the National League with Zach Greinke of the Dodgers and Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals.

Jonathan Lucroy homered and Jean Segura also drove in a run for the Brewers, who dropped their fourth straight game. Kyle Lohse (9-3) was reached for four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits with eight strikeouts over five innings.

"I feel like we always play them well," said Lucroy. "They just seem to have our number this year as far as beating us."

Milwaukee stranded runners at the corners in the third. Scooter Gennett singled to center and Ryan Braun worked a one-out walk. Gennett moved to third on Lucroy's flyout, but Carlos Gomez grounded into a force out to end the inning.

The Reds made the most of their opportunities in the home half. Simon singled before Hamilton crushed the first pitch he saw over the right-field wall for a 2-0 lead.

"I was looking for a changeup," Hamilton said. "(Lohse) threw a bunch of them to me in the first at-bat."

Back-to-back doubles from Devin Mesoraco and Schumaker made it a 3-0 game in the fourth.

Cincinnati added another run in the fifth. Todd Frazier reached on first baseman Lyle Overbay's fielding error before coming home on Votto's double to the left-field corner.

Aramis Ramirez was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh for Milwaukee and took second on Simon's wild pitch. Overbay singled to put runners on the corners and Segura brought Ramirez home with a base hit.

Lucroy made it a 4-2 game in the eighth with a solo shot to right-center field, ending Simon's outing.

Aroldis Chapman tossed a scoreless ninth for his 17th save of the season.

Game Notes

Chapman has recorded a strikeout in 36 straight appearances. It is the longest active streak by a reliever and is second in major league history since 1900, trailing Bruce Sutter, who reached 39 games in 1977 with the Cubs ... The Reds lead the season series, 6-2 ... The Brewers have lost five straight games on July 4 ... Prior to the game, Milwaukee recalled outfielder Logan Schafer from Triple-A Nashville and optioned infielder Elian Herrera to Nashville ... Lohse's last loss came on June 6 vs. Pittsburgh.