John Lamb Sprains Thumb Reds Glum

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Jonathan Lucroy's third home run of the season off Ross Ohlendorf in the eighth inning and threw Billy Hamilton out stealing for the final out to send the Reds to a second straight loss to the Brewers, 5-4.

John Lamb allowed a home run to Ryan Braun and a bloop single to Jonathan Lucroy and little else but left the game with a sprained left thumb and a 2-2 count to Hernan Perez, who led off the fourth inning.

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 "Lamb jammed his thumb in his at bat in the fourth," Bryan Price said. "It happens to all of us where we jam our fingers and have to go out and pitcn We were hoping the soreness would go away but he couldn't really grip the ball. It was a tough way to come out of a ballgame. He was throwing good."

Jordan Pacheco, who got a start at firstbase, singled with one out in the ninth.  Billy Hamilton was brought in to pinch run.  He stayed put as Ramon Cabrera lined out to center.  He took off with Zack Cozart at the plate, pinch hitting for Ohlendorf.  Lucroy;s throw was on the money.  The Reds had it reviewed but it was inconclusive after a 58 second review.

."I gave Billy the green light to go," Price said. "We couldn't wait for Zack to hit one in the gap. We had to give ourselves more avenues to score. We have to take our shot We knew Jeffress was quick to the plate. Everything has to go right for them Jeffress has to be quick to the plate and Lucroy put his throw right on the bag. Our replays weren't conclusive either but we had to have him look at it."

Braun's seventh home run of the season in the first inning put the Brewers on top.

Junior Guerra, the Brewers' starter, retired the first seven Reds' batters in order.  Ramon Cabrera walked and Lamb bunted him to second. Tyler Holt belted his first Major League triple to tie the game. Ivan De Jesus Jr. doubled and Joey Votto singled to put the Reds up 3-1.

Adam Duvall hit his sixth home run in the fourth.

Steve Delabar relieved Lamb, who was looking at his hand when he left the game.  With the count 2-2 on Perez, Delabar threw two pitches which were fouled off.  Perez hit the third pitch for his third home run for a 4-2 score.

 "We were winning. My job is to keep the team in the game," Lamb said.."That's where the frustration comes in. I will have an MRI tomorrow. I'm staying positive. They gave me this brace to wear but I won't wear it because it makes me feel hurt. We all get jammed every once in a while. I am hoping it doesn't keep me from my next start."

Back-to-back doubles by Braun and Lucroy in the sixth made it a one-run game.

Blake Wood walked the first two batters in the seventh inning.  A ground ball moved them to second and third.  Jonathan Villar's ground out scored the tying run.

Reds' relief pitchers have given up nine home runs to the first batter they've faced this season.

"We have to be a way better pitching staff or this is what you get," Price said.. "The starters aren't going deep enough into games and the bullpen has to be more effective or we'll have to go to an eight-man bullpen. We are going to wear the bullpen out by June if we don't get better."