Brice Turang socked a two-run homer and Tyler Alexander and four relievers combined on a five-hitter as the Milwaukee Brewers held on for a 3-2 victory over visiting Cincinnati on Friday night, the Reds’ fourth consecutive loss.
Milwaukee has won four straight since opening the season with four losses.
The Reds, who had dropped their three previous games 1-0, snapped their scoreless streak at 35 innings with two unearned runs in the eighth to pull within 3-2.
TJ Friedl singled to open the eighth off Bryan Hudson, and Spencer Steer reached on an error by third baseman Oliver Dunn. Both runners advanced on Elly De La Cruz’s deep foulout to right. Joel Payamps replaced Hudson, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand delivered a sacrifice fly to center to make it 3-1. Jeimer Candelario followed with an RBI double down the first base line.
Jake Fraley flied out to end the inning.
Turang put the Brewers in front 3-0 in the fifth with his long ball. Garrett Mitchell doubled to open the frame. With one out, Turang sent a 3-1 pitch 418 feet to right-center for his second homer of the season.
Alexander (1-0), making his first start of the season, did not allow a hit in 5 2/3 innings, striking out six and walking three in an 83-pitch outing. Trevor Megill tossed a scoreless ninth for his first save of the year.
Gavin Lux broke up the no-hitter with two outs in the seventh with a line single to center off Abner Uribe. Santiago Espinal then dribbled an infield single, but Austin Wynns bounced to second to end the inning.
Cincinnati starter Nick Martinez (0-2) allowed three runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking two.
The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the second when Sal Frelick singled with one out and stole second before Rhys Hoskins walked. Mitchell’s two-out single to left scored Frelick.
The Reds had runners at the corners with two outs in the second after a walk and hit batter, but Alexander got Espinal on an inning-ending popout to second.
–Field Level Media
