CINCINNATI -- Bases loaded, one out, down by a run with the heart of the order coming up. The Brewers had a great opportunity to pull one out, and all they managed were a couple of harmless pop-ups.
Adam Duvall and Tucker Barnhart doubled home runs in the sixth inning Friday night, rallying the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 victory over Milwaukee that snapped a three-game losing streak.
The bottom two teams in the NL Central went into the All-Star break with downturns. The last-place Reds pulled off a three-run rally, then barely held on in the ninth when Milwaukee scored a run but left the bases loaded.
"We had it set up," manager Craig Counsell said. "We had an opportunity, for sure."
Duvall's double off Matt Garza (1-3) cut Milwaukee's lead to 3-2, the ball hitting the top of the wall in left. Barnhart's two-run double just inside the third base line off Carlos Torres gave Cincinnati its first lead. Jay Bruce added an RBI double in the seventh.
Anthony DeSclafani (4-0) allowed six hits in six innings, including Scooter Gennett's homer. DeSclafani leads the Reds staff with six quality starts in seven appearances since he recovered from a strained oblique.
Tony Cingrani gave up pinch-hitter Hernan Perez's RBI single in the ninth, and then loaded the bases with one out. The left-hander retired Gennett on a foul out. Ross Ohlendorf came in and got Ryan Braun to pop up, earning his second save in four chances.
Gennett swung at a full-count fastball from Cingrani that might have forced in a run if he'd taken it.
"It was probably ball four, but I got a borderline pitch there," Gennett said. "I just got under it a little bit."
The Brewers have lost three straight and 10 of 14.
Billy Hamilton had a pair of singles, stole a base, and scored twice. He made it home from second on a fielder's choice for Cincinnati's first run in the fourth inning.
"He's the only guy in baseball that scores there, or even tries, really," Counsell said. "That's what speed does."
A grounder that deflected off first base helped the Brewers go up 2-1 in the fifth. Ramon Flores singled and advanced on Garza's sacrifice. Jonathan Villar hit a slow grounder down the line that Joey Votto failed to charge, allowing the ball to hit first base and skip away for an RBI single.
Garza gave up six hits and a pair of walks in 5 1/3 innings. He's still working back into form after missing most of the first half of the season with a strained muscle in his side.
"It's coming back," Garza said. "It feels good. I'm getting more control of my stuff every time out. I've just got to stay with the program."
NICE D
Brewers shortstop Jonathan Villar made a sliding stop on Votto's grounder to the hole and threw him out from his knees.
HO HO HO
The Brewers worked out to Christmas carols pregame as the Cincinnati Pops rehearsed. It provided the soundtrack for postgame fireworks as part of a Christmas in July promotion.
BREWERS MOVE
Right-hander Corey Knebel was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs and pitched the eighth. He opened the season on the DL with a strained left oblique and went 0-1 with an 8.31 ERA in five games last month before being sent down.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: OF Domingo Santana -- on the DL with a sore right elbow -- worked out before the game. He could start a rehab assignment within a week. ... LHP Chris Capuano got an injection in his sore left elbow and isn't with the team on the road trip. He's on the 60-day DL.
Reds: RHP Homer Bailey threw 67 pitches in four innings of a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Friday, allowing three hits and one run. He's scheduled to pitch in the minors again in five days. Bailey is recovering from Tommy John surgery 14 months ago. ... 2B Brandon Phillips left in the seventh inning with a strained right calf.
UP NEXT
Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson (5-7, 3.62) is 0-4 with a 5.14 ERA in his last seven starts. He's 2-2 career against the Reds with a 5.88 ERA in seven starts and two relief appearances.
Reds: LHP John Lamb (1-6, 5.29) has lost his last two starts, giving up 11 earned runs in 9 1/3 innings. He's 0-2 in four career starts against Milwaukee with a 6.98 ERA. The Reds have lost all four games.
