Milwaukee went on the road and slowed down Cincinnati 5-1 in the first game of their four-game series this weekend. The Brewers responded with an early run by blowing up the third inning, and the Reds were never able to recover. Milwaukee improves to an even 5-5 this season while the Reds pick up just their third loss of the season (7-3). Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson got the win, throwing seven innings and giving up just one earned a run.

Bronson Arroyo was tagged with his second loss, and his ERA has ballooned to 9.90 on the young season.

Brewers vs. Reds series capsule

  • Game 1: Milwaukee 5-1
  • Game 2: Friday, 7:10 PM ET
  • Game 3: Saturday 1:10 PM ET
  • Game 4: Sunday, 1:10 PM ET

Thames and Braun step up big for Brewers

Milwaukee started things off by going down in order in the top of the first, and Cincinnati responded with small ball. Billy Hamilton had a leadoff single, and he was able to steal second and move to third on a flyout. Joey Votto then hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Hamilton. After being shut down in the first two innings, the Brewers came back stronger than ever.

The bottom of their order started things off with Manny Pina and Orlando Arcia picking up a few singles in just four pitches. After both runners advanced on the first out, Jonathan Villar would advance them further with a sacrifice groundout to bring in Pina. That tied things up at 1-1. Eric Thames shot a sharp hit to right field to get on base and bring in Arcia. Feeling the offensive momentum, Ryan Braun stepped in and got his third home run of the season to put the score at a 4-1 advantage for the Brewers.

Reds can't come up with answers

Cincinnati couldn't respond in the bottom of the frame. Facing two outs, Jose Peraza did his best by picking up a single and stealing second base, but Votto would end up flying out to end any threat.

Instead of Cincinnati coming back, Milwaukee was able to put up an insurance run. In the top of the fifth and two outs on the board, Thames came through again and smacked his second homer of the season to make it 5-1. Braun didn't have anything after that, however -- he flew out on the very first pitch he saw.

Again, the Reds couldn't generate enough offense to respond. In the bottom of the fifth, they had a leadoff single by Zack Cozart but followed it up with three consecutive outs. Cozart registered another hit in the bottom of the seventh. The Brewers could have added on to the top of the eighth. Thames was hit by a pitch, and Braun forced a walk with now outs, but a few groundouts ended it. Cincinnati ended the game with seven consecutive batters retiring after Cozart's last hit.