Brewers' bats go quiet in Cincinnati as Reds get the sweep

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CINCINNATI - The Milwaukee Brewers plunged to a season-low 10-and-a-half games out of first place in the National League Central, after they were swept for three at division-leading Cincinnati.

The Brewers lost 2-1 yesterday. Ryan Braun said the Brewers deserve to be where they are, a distant fourth. He said it will be tough to get past the Reds, Pittsburgh, and Saint Louis – but Braun said there’s a lot of baseball left, and he’s not giving up yet. Johnny Cueto struck out nine and walked one in seven innings, as he tied a career-high for season wins with 12 against five losses. Milwaukee out-hit the Reds 10-8. But once again, the Brewers failed to get timely hits as they went just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Milwaukee only hit .218 in the series.

The Crew took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, when Aramis Ramirez had an RBI-single after Norichika Aoki had doubled. But the Reds scored twice in the bottom of the third to win it. Wilson Valdez singled home a run. And then Brewers' starter Mike Fiers made a throwing error on a pickoff attempt, which allowed Valdez to reach third. He scored the game-winner on a sacrifice fly from Brandon Phillips. Fiers took the loss. He's 3-4. Aroldis Chapman earned his 17th save. Cincinnati ended its home stand at 8-2 – only the fifth time in team history that the Reds won at least eight games in a home-stand of 10 contests or fewer. Milwaukee opens a series at Philadelphia tonight. Left-hander Randy Wolf goes against Phillies' right-hander Roy Halladay.

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The Brewers went 4-5 in a stretch of must-win games against the three teams above them in the National League Central. Now, the speculation is growing about Milwaukee dealing stars-for-prospects, with the trade deadline looming a week from tomorrow. The latest rumor has third baseman Aramis Ramirez going to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The veteran just signed a three-year contract with Milwaukee last season, but he has no protection against a trade. Ramirez says he's been dealt before, so he knows how things go. And as he put it, "I can't let that bother me at all." After a slow start, Ramirez is batting .274 with 10 homers and 54 RBI's. And with 30 doubles, he's on pace to break Lyle Overbay's Brewer record of 53 two-baggers in 2004. Also, Ramirez has not made an error at third base since May 15th. Speculation is also expected to keep growing about a contender getting right-hander Zack Greinke, who will start tomorrow night at Philadelphia. Closer Francisco Rodriguez is also mentioned as a possible trade candidate.

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