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MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Ken Griffey Jr. homered for the fourth straight game, and Ryan Dempster pitched seven strong innings as the Cincinnati Reds ended an eight-game losing streak by beating the Milwaukee Brewers 6-1 Friday night.

The Reds scored four runs in the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie and take control of the game.

D'Angelo Jimenez led off with a triple that was just out of the reach of right fielder John Vander Wal, and came home on a grounder by Barry Larkin. Third baseman Wes Helms fielded the grounder and threw wildly to home, allowing Larkin to take second. Jose Guillen then drove in Larkin with a single before Griffey hit a towering 405-foot shot to right for the 480th homer of his career.

The last time Griffey, who also struck out three times and walked once, homered in four straight games was May 20-23, 1994.

That was the last pitch thrown by Milwaukee starter Ben Sheets (7-7), who allowed four runs on six hits. He struck out four and walked none.

Dempster (3-6), who was relieved by Felix Heredia to start the eighth, allowed eight hits, seven of which came in three innings. Dempster struck out six and walked two.

Milwaukee center fielder Scott Podsednik doubled with two outs in the ninth inning to reach base for the 41st consecutive game, the longest such streak in the majors this season.

The Brewers blew a chance in the fourth when they loaded the bases with none out on a walk to Geoff Jenkins and singles by Richie Sexson and Vander Wal. Dempster struck out Helms and, after falling behind 3-0, got Keith Osik to hit into a double play to end the inning.

Helms drove in Milwaukee's lone run with a two-out single in the sixth that scored Vander Wal.

The Reds added two insurance runs in the eighth against reliever Leo Estrella. Guillen had an RBI double, his third hit, and later scored on a throwing error by Estrella.

Game notes

All-Stars Sexson (25) and Jenkins (20) are the first Brewer teammates to hit 20 home runs prior to the All-Star break. ... The Reds are 1-5-2 in their last eight series. ... Guillen, who doubled and singled twice, continues to play while appealing his two-game suspension for bumping umpire Matt Hallowell on June 25 at St. Louis.