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Votto, Bruce blast Reds past struggling Brewers

Sep 20, 2008 - 3:12 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Rookies Joey Votto and Jay Bruce both homered twice as the Cincinnati Reds matched a season-high with seven home runs en route to an 11-2 triumph over the slumping Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.

Jerry Hairston Jr. had a two-run shot and Jolbert Cabrera and Andy Phillips added solo homers for Cincinnati, which belted seven home runs on two previous occasions this season. The Reds accomplished the feat in a 9-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on May 7, and did so again against the Cubs in a 12-7 triumph on July 10.

"All of the home runs were hit, too. That was very impressive tonight," Bruce said of the outburst. "We have been playing some really good baseball and hopefully it is a sign of things to come."

The loss was the seventh in the last eight games for Milwaukee (84-70), which fell two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies (86-68) in the race for the National League wild card.

The Brewers fell for the 14th time in 18 games this month, leaving the Cubs one victory - or one Milwaukee loss - away from clinching their second consecutive NL Central crown.

Votto belted a three-run home run in the first and a solo shot in the third to stake the Reds to a 6-0 advantage. For his part, Bruce had a two-run homer to cap a five-run first inning and then added a solo shot in the seventh.

"I think that it is friendly competition," Bruce said of his relationship with Votto. "We just push each other. I think that we subconsciously do it. We just play hard, and let our ability take care of itself."

That was more than enough offense for rookie Ramon Ramirez (1-0), who allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings to pick up his first career victory.

"He has a great command out there," Reds manager Dusty Baker said of his 26-year-old righthander.

"He has a good fastball, good sinker, his breaking ball is getting better and he already came here with a good changeup. So he has been very, very impressive."

Ramirez was also impressive in a previous start against the Brewers, surrendering one run and one hit while walking and striking out four in six innings on September 9.

Jeff Suppan (5-7) allowed five runs and five hits in two innings before departing. The 33-year-old righthander has surrendered 29 home runs this season, including 19 in his last 14 starts.

"I wasn't able to execute the pitches that I wanted to. I was up in the zone and they were able to capitalize," Suppan said. "Those two guys (Votto and Bruce) have hit home runs off of me before and I know that they have power. I just need to locate better."

Manny Parra relieved Suppan but suffered a similar fortune.

Parra surrendered five runs - including four home runs - while allowing seven hits in four innings.

"I did not make good pitches, I could not get the ball down. So that put them into hitter's counts and they took advantage of it," Parra said.

"We are not playing the same ball that we were earlier in the year. Earlier in the year, we were pitching well and hitting well. We are working just as hard and we have the same approach to every game. It is not an attitude thing."