Wild pitch ushers in winning run as Brewers fall to Reds

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- In a game of giveaways, the Cincinnati Reds came out on top.

Jay Bruce scored a career-high three times, including the go-ahead run in the eighth inning on the third wild pitch by the Brewers, allowing Cincinnati to beat Milwaukee 6-5 on Friday night.

Rickie Weeks, Mike Cameron and Bill Hall all made an error and Manny Parra uncorked two wild pitches and Solomon Torres added the costliest one for the Brewers. The Reds had one miscue, Edwin Encarnacion's throwing error in the fourth.

"You have to [take advantage]," Bruce said. "That's how good teams stay on top, I think, and I consider us a good team. You have to take advantage of that stuff. You see it all the time. Little things hurt you the most."

Reds manager Dusty Baker was a little kinder with his assessment.

"Both sides gave each other some runs," he said. "But, we got one more run than they did."

However, the Brewers were more generous as a wild pitch in the first inning produced the Reds' first run. Weeks' fielding error set up a run in the fourth, Cameron's fielding error allowed a run to score in the seventh and then Hall's throwing error in the eighth and Torres' pitch in the dirt with the bases loaded gave the Reds the winning run.

Brewers manager Ned Yost defended his players, though.

"They're tough plays," he said. "You make them or you don't make them."

Cameron felt the same way.

"You can't see it, you can't catch it," he said.

Encarnacion hit a ground-rule double because of fan interference off Brian Shouse (3-1) to start the eighth, and he advanced when Bruce reached on a throwing error by third baseman Hall. Torres relieved and walked David Ross. Pinch-hitter Adam Dunn followed by hitting into a fielder's choice forcing Encarnacion at home. With Jerry Hairston at the plate, Bruce scored on a wild pitch.

Mike Lincoln (1-2) picked up the victory with scoreless relief in the seventh inning. Francisco Cordero, who left Milwaukee as a free agent after last season and signed with the Reds for more money, heard nothing but boos as he trotted in from the bullpen. It didn't bother him as he pitched the ninth for his 19th save in 23 chances.

The Reds chased Milwaukee starter Parra in the seventh and tied the game 5-5 with three runs on three hits, a walk and an error.

"It was probably the best I've thrown all year, in my opinion, going into the seventh," Parra said. "I don't know if I got some more adrenaline or what, but I just did not make a pitch."

Ross singled home one run and pinch-hitter Andy Phillips drove in another. Phillips scored when center fielder Cameron missed Hairston's line drive off reliever David Riske.

Hairston's sacrifice fly gave the Reds a 2-1 lead in the fifth.

Reds starter Josh Fogg left with a one-run lead and two on in the sixth, but the bullpen failed as the Brewers scored four times for a 5-2 lead.

Bill Bray relieved Fogg and struck out Prince Fielder. Corey Hart's run-scoring single chased Bray, and Gary Majewski took over only to give up Hall's run-scoring double and Cameron's RBI single.

Ken Griffey Jr.'s run-scoring groundout in the top of the first was the first run Parra had surrendered since June 23, a span of 14 innings over three appearances, including two starts. He allowed five runs -- three earned -- and six hits over 6 1/3 innings.

Fogg allowed one hit, Ryan Braun's homer in the first, over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out a season-high six and walked two in his second start since coming off the disabled list July 5 with back spasms.

Game notes
Encarnacion tied a season high with three hits, going 3-for-4 with two doubles. ... The Brewers have homered in each of the last 11 games which is their longest streak of the season. ... A crowd of 41,229 gave the Brewers their 18th sellout of the season.