Brewers take 81st loss 4-3 to Reds

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MILWAUKEE - The Milwaukee Brewers are just one loss away from the guarantee of a losing season, after falling to Cincinnati 4-3 last night at Miller Park.

It was the Brewers’ 81st defeat of the year – and they’ll have to win all of their remaining 12 games to finish at .500. The Reds, meanwhile, dropped their magic number to four to clinch the National League Central. They improved to 9-1 against Milwaukee this season. And Cincinnati skipper Dusty Baker got his 14-hundredth career win as a manager. Former Brewer Jim Edmonds hit a solo homer in the second inning off Dave Bush – and the 40-year-old Edmonds strained his lower right leg while running the bases.

The Reds were up 4-0 after three innings, and Milwaukee was held to five singles and four walks. Rickie Weeks had two of those hits. The Brewers scored twice in the ninth on a throwing error by Jay Bruce to make the final score respectable. Bush dropped to 7-13, giving up four runs in five-and-a-third innings. Edinson Volquez got the win, striking out six in eight innings. He’s now 4-3. Ex-Brewer Francisco Cordero picked up his 38th save. Milwaukee center fielder Chris Dickerson left after six innings with a strained hamstring. Reds’ first baseman Joey Votto missed the game with a sinus infection.

The two teams will close out their series tonight. Left-hander Randy Wolf starts against Reds’ right-hander Johnny Cueto.

Tags: wisconsin sports, proam, baseball, brewers