Brewers bats silenced in loss to Reds, 5-1

MILWAUKEE (AP) — David Holmberg pitched six effective innings, Billy Hamilton hit a two-run triple and the Cincinnati Reds beat Milwaukee 5-1 on Saturday night, snapping the Brewers' three-game winning streak.

Holmberg (1-1) allowed two hits in his first major league win, including Aramis Ramirez's fourth-inning homer. The left-hander has yielded one earned run in 12 2-3 innings over three September appearances.

The Brewers' offense is struggling as it tries to keep pace in the National League playoff race. The Brewers entered the evening 1 1/2 games behind Pittsburgh for the second wild-card spot.

Cincinnati scratched out two runs in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk and sacrifice fly off Yovani Gallardo (8-10). The speedy Hamilton broke open a one-run game with his triple to the gap in right-center in the seventh.

Hamilton's first extra-base hit since Aug. 28 came against Zach Duke, part of a porous outing for a Brewers bullpen that gave up three runs and six hits combined in the seventh and eighth innings.

The 23-year-old Holmberg overcame an early bout of wildness after hitting two batters in the first, when the Brewers also had their best chance at a big inning.

An unusual double play with runners on first and second and nobody out helped bail out Cincinnati. Jonathan Lucroy's hard-hit grounder to shortstop Zack Cozart froze Carlos Gomez leading off second.

Cozart threw to second for a forceout before Cincinnati tracked down Gomez in a rundown. Holmberg then got Khris Davis to fly out to right to end the inning.

A frustrating night at the plate for Milwaukee included a corkscrew swing for Gomez through a Holmberg curveball for a strikeout. Gomez's helmet fell off during the swing, and the animated outfielder slammed his bat down on the helmet on the ground before walking away.