Reds' bats strike late and rally past Brewers 4-3

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CINNCINNATI - The Milwaukee Brewers blew a 3-0 lead last night before losing at Cincinnati 4-3.

Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning, which ruined a possible shutout by Milwaukee starter Shaun Marcum. In the eighth, Joey Votto hit a two-run shot off Kameron Loe which put the Reds in front for good. Ex-Brewer Francisco Cordero threw a perfect ninth to get his 300th career save. He had tried for almost a week to achieve the milestone, and he’s the 22nd big leaguer to do it. The 36-year-old Cordero was Milwaukee’s closer for almost one-and-a-half seasons in 2006-and-’07 before moving on to Cincinnati as a free agent in ’08.

The Brewers wasted a lead-off homer from Rickie Weeks – the 24th of his career, and nine short of Paul Molitor’s team-record of 33 lead-off homers. Ryan Braun and Yuniesky Betancourt drove in Milwaukee’s other runs, as the Brewers out-hit the Reds 9-6. Third baseman Casey McGehee was given the night off, after falling into a 3-for-23 slump. Nick Masset got the win in relief for Cincinnati. He’s 1-3. Loe took the loss. He’s 2-5.

The Reds took two-of-three from the Brewers this week, but they’ve only won four-of-their-last-15. The Brewers’ loss was only the third in their last 12. They’re off today, and will open a four-game series at Florida tomorrow night.

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The Chicago Cubs were swept by Houston after a 3-1 loss yesterday. It was the Astros’ first three-game sweep at Wrigley Field since September of 2008. Kosuke Fukudome hit a solo homer for the Cubs, who’ve lost five-of-six.

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The Brewers have named catcher Jonathan Lucroy as their player-of-the-month, and right-hander Yovani Gallardo as May’s top pitcher. Lucroy batted .298 last month with five homers and 20 RBI’s. Gallardo went 5-1 in May with an ERA of 2.45

Tags: wisconsin sports, proam, baseball, brewers