Milwaukee Clubs Reds

The Milwaukee Brewers committed an all out assault on Bronson Arroyo and the Reds' pitching staff in an 8-1 win over the home team.

Arroyo was battered and bruised even when he made good pitches.  Even the bullpen which has been spectacular over the last five weeks was beaten up by the offensive minded Brewers, who once were buried in the division but rallied the last 30 games to put themselves into a position to earn a wild card spot.

Logan Ondrusek, Sam LeCure and Alfredo Simon were all touched for a run in relief of Arroyo, who surrendered four in his six innings.

The Reds took a lead but the euphoria ended there.  Zack Cozart singled and scored on the 42nd double of the season by Joey Votto, who reached base in all four of his plate appearances.

Shaun Marcum was at his best after that.

"He kept us off balance," acting manager Chris Speier said.  "He made his pitches when he had to and we didn't get much going."

Arroyo got the first two batters out in the third but the wrath of the heart of the Brewers' order was heard loud and clear the rest of the inning.

Norichika Aoki lined his 10th home run into the right field seats.  Rickie Weeks singled.  Ryan Braun singled and Aramis Ramirez hit a tough pitch off of Cozart's glove to score Weeks.

"It was a change up low and away.  He hit it off the ground and hit it hard," Arroyo said.  "If Cozart would have come up with the ball it would have been an unbelievable play, so you couldn't expect that."

It would have ended the inning with minimal damage but the Brewers added onto the lead.

Corey Hart singled to score Braun.

"They battled me hard just quality at bats," Arroyo said.  "They had quality at bats."

Arroyo held Milwaukee for two innings, trying to give his team a chance to fight back.

The Reds big chance came in the fifth.

Ryan Hanigan opened it with a single.  Arroyo bunted him to second.  Phillips lined to center.  Cozart and Votto walked but Marcum fanned Scott Rolen to end the Reds' threat.

The Brewers added a run in the sixth off Arroyo.  Logan Ondrusek allowed a double by Aoki and Braun's league leading 41st home run.  Aoki doubled again in the eighth that scored.Jeff Bianchi, who walked off Sam LeCure.  Simon gave up a home run to Jonathan Lucroy to close the scoring.

The Reds had just six hits.

Is Speier concerned about the Reds' offense?

"No not really, I'm sure we'd like to get on all cylinders shortly.  Everybody is in that situation, hoping the pitching and the hitting come together," Speier said.

Arroyo, who has been through the post season more than any of the other Reds, agreed.

"In the playoffs it's a coin toss," Arroyo said.  "We've had to grind a lot this year to win some close games.  Runs are definitely at a premium this time of year.  It isn't so much scoring runs but just getting on base and putting pressure on their pitchers to build their pitch count up."