Herrera homer paces Brewers to win in opener of doubleheader
CINCINNATI -- Elian Herrera hit a tiebreaking home run on reliever J.J. Hoover's first pitch of the eighth inning, sending the Milwaukee Brewers over the Cincinnati Reds 8-6 Saturday in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
A day after the teams were rained out, the Brewers won their fifth in a row. They also have taken five straight at Cincinnati.
The Reds made it 6-all in the seventh against Jeremy Jeffress (5-0) on Skip Schumaker's bases-loaded double-play ball. Herrera then greeted Hoover (7-1) with his sixth homer of the season and first since Aug. 9.
Domingo Santana added a sacrifice fly in the ninth.
Will Smith pitched the eighth and Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 34th save despite allowing one-out singles by Joey Votto and Brandon Phillips, who finished with four hits.
The Brewers overcame a 5-1 deficit by scoring five times in the sixth. Herrera had an RBI grounder and pinch hitter Adam Lind doubled to improve to .404 (19 for 47) with 16 RBI against the Reds this season. Jean Segura capped the inning with a go-ahead single.
Milwaukee's rally allowed starter Matt Garza to avoid another defeat. He began the day tied with Philadelphia's Aaron Harang for the most losses in the majors with 14.
Garza gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.
John Lamb, one of three left-handers acquired by Cincinnati from Kansas City for ace Johnny Cueto in late July 26, gave up one run and four hits through the first five innings before wilting in the sixth.
Eugenio Suarez had three hits and drove in two runs while the Reds were building a 5-1 lead through five innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Brewers: With the gametime temperature at a steamy 86 degrees, Garza needed 13 pitches to coax Reds leadoff batter Jason Bourgeois into popping up. Garza threw 96 pitches in less than five innings.
Reds: Brennan Boesch began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. The Reds placed Boesch on the 15-day disabled list on Aug. 31 with a bruised bone in his right ankle.
