MILWAUKEE (AP) — TJ Friedl homered to lead off a five-run first inning, left-hander Nick Lodolo pitched eight strong innings and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 on Friday night.
In a matchup of rookie starters, Lodolo (4-5) easily outperformed Brewers right-hander Jason Alexander (2-3). Lodolo had career bests with 11 strikeouts and eight innings, while Cincinnati’s first six batters reached base off Alexander.
Friedl hit an 0-2 pitch for his first career leadoff home run. Jonathan India hit the next pitch for a stand-up triple and scored on Kyle Farmer’s single. Jake Farley was hit by a pitch, then boos followed an RBI single Donovan Solano that put the Reds up 3-0.
After Aristides Aquino walked to load the bases, Milwaukee — fighting for a wild-card spot — recorded its first outs by turning a double play, but a run scored to put the Reds up 4-0. Alexander appeared to yell into his glove after an RBI single by Jose Barrero made it 5-0.
In contrast, Lodolo needed only nine pitches to retire the first three batters in the first inning, striking out two of them.
Tyrone Taylor hit his 16th home run of the season, a two-run shot off Lodolo in the third inning, to cut the Reds’ lead to 5-2.
After hitting Taylor with a pitch in the fifth, Lodolo retired nine straight.
The Reds extended their lead to 8-2 in the ninth inning with a two-run home run by India and a solo homer by Fraley off Brent Suter.
The Reds pounded out 17 hits against four Brewers pitchers. Aquino had three doubles. Farmer also had three hits. Friedl, India, Fraley, Solano and Barrero each had two hits.
The Reds have their first three-game winning streak since winning five in a row from July 30 to Aug. 2.
