Reds 5, Brewers 1
CINCINNATI -- Left fielder Donald Lutz hit his first career homer, a three-run shot in the second inning, and Bronson Arroyo allowed just five hits in 6 2/3 innings as the Cincinnati Reds completed a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers with a 5-1 victory on Sunday.
Pinch-hitter Xavier Paul added a solo home run in the seventh for Cincinnati. Arroyo (3-4) walked one and struck out five to end his three-game losing streak.
The Reds (22-16) improved to 16-6 at Great American Ball Park, the best home record in baseball.
Milwaukee (15-20) missed several scoring chances in Sunday's game.
Yuniesky Betancourt led off the second with a double, but Arroyo retired the next three batters, two by strikeout, to end the inning. Betancourt and Jean Segura each went 2 for 3 with a double for Milwaukee.
With runners on first and third and one out in the fourth, Martin Maldonado grounded into a 6 -4-3 double play.
Jeff Bianchi doubled with two outs in the fifth, but Arroyo fanned Milwaukee starting pitcher Wily Peralta to end the inning.
The Reds took a 3-0 lead in the second when, with runners on first and second with one out, Lutz hit a line-drive homer that caromed off the right-field foul pole. The blast extended his hitting streak to six games.
Peralta (3-3) allowed four runs, three earned, in six innings.
Milwaukee's defense committed two errors, helping Cincinnati add to its lead in the third.
Joey Votto singled with one out. Brandon Phillips grounded back to Peralta, who threw wildly past second for an error, putting runners on first and third. Then Segura's errant throw to first prevented an inning-ending double play and Votto scored to put the Reds ahead 4-0.
From there, it was all Arroyo, who had 70 pitches through six innings, aided by 1-2-3 innings in the third and sixth.
Milwaukee chased Arroyo after 87 pitches with two outs the seventh, when Logan Schafer was hit by a pitch and Rickie Weeks singled to put runners on first and third. But Bianchi struck out looking against Sam LeCure to end the inning.
Paul's solo homer in the seventh came on an 0-2 pitch from Mike Fiers, who was making his first appearance since being recalled from Class A Brevard County before the game.
Alex Gonzalez scored the Brewers' run on a passed ball in the eighth.
NOTES: Paul's homer was his second of the season, both coming as a pinch hitter. .. Arroyo won for the first time since April 15. .. Friers was recalled to fill the roster spot of left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 8, after Saturday's game with left shoulder tendinitis. .. Schafer made his second start this season in center field in place of Carlos Gomez, who was given a day off. Gomez pinch-hit in the ninth. ... Reds left-hander Manny Parra will begin a rehab assignment on Monday at Double-A Pensacola. He has been on the DL since April 26 with a strained left pectoral muscle.
