Reds Meet Then Beat Milwaukee in 10 Innings 8-4

Dusty Baker told the Enquirer the players meeting held yesterday was "none of your business."

After the Reds took extra innings to beat the Brewers, 8-4, the topic was revealed.  Baker told his team to "stay positive"  The team fell two games below .500 by losing some tough games.

On Saturday, it took nine innings of negativity before the Reds strung together key hits in the 10th.

New ace Johnny Cueto didn't have his best stuff from the start.  He gave up two runs and committed an error.  He didn't have a clean inning until the sixth while making another error.  Still, he turned in his 10th quality start in 11 attempts.

Fred Lewis drove in Jay Bruce with a double. Ramon Hernandez 10th home run and third against Milwaukee put the Reds on top, 3-2.

Milwaukee starter Shaun Marcum squeezed home a run in the bottom of the inning but Cueto held the fort after that.

Cueto finished with 6 1/3 innings.

Aroldis Chapman relieved Cueto and picked off Corey Hart.  Chapman finished the inning.

Logan Ondrusek pitching in his fourth straight game pitched an inning but gave up a lead off single to Rickie Weeks in the ninth.  Bill Bray came on and threw wild on a pick off attempt, putting Weeks in scoring position with no out. 

The Reds caught a break that has eluded them lately.

Nyjer Morgan bunted a two-strike attempt foul.  Ironically, in Cueto's last start, Yadier Molina was successful in a sacrifice attempt with two strikes that led to a run that beat Cueto.  This time the Reds were spared a lost by Morgan's lack of execution.  Hart flied to deep right.  That would have scored Weeks had Morgan been successful.  As it was Weeks went to third.  He stayed there as Prince Fielder was walked on purpose and Mark Kotsay the hero in Friday night's game popped out.

Jay Bruce led the 10th inning with his 21st home run off, Mark Estrada.  Scott Rolen, who was named as an All-Star replacement during the game, doubled.  Rolen had two chances with the bases loaded and one with two on to drive in runs.  He personnaly stranded eight runners.

Hernandez, Joey Votto and Miguel Cairo drove in runs to give the Reds an 8-3 lead.

Francisco Cordero gave up a run but finished the Brewers off.

The Reds through all there troubles are just three games off the pace.  They will be no worse than four games out and conceivably could go to the All-Star break within two games of the lead.