Schebler, Winkler power Reds past Brewers
CINCINNATI -- Scott Schebler homered and Jesse Winker delivered a two-run double for his first career hit, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-5 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on a steamy Saturday at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds overcame the loss of starting pitcher Brandon Finnegan, who left the game after one inning because of a strained left lat muscle.
Eugenio Suarez went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple, and Scooter Gennett had two RBIs for Cincinnati (8-4) which collected eight extra-base hits.
First baseman Eric Thames homered twice for Milwaukee (6-6), giving him four in the series. It was his first career multi-home run game.
Hernan Perez also homered for the Brewers.
Finnegan struggled again with his command in the first inning, issuing three walks. Perez made him pay with a two-run double to center, giving Milwaukee a 2-0 lead. The inning could have been worse for Finnegan if Jonathan Villar wasn't picked off second by Tucker Barnhart.
Finnegan was lifted after one inning and 26 pitches because of an injury and the bullpen took over.
Reds right-hander Robert Stephenson struck out five over his three innings. Raisel Iglesias (1-0) allowed a run over two frames to earn the victory. Michael Lorenzen gave up a walk in the ninth but earned his first save of the season.
Cincinnati rallied in the second behind Schebler, who capped an 11-pitch at-bat with his third home run of the season -- a solo shot to right field.
Zack Cozart tripled home the tying run and then scored on a groundout to give the Reds a 3-2 lead. Thames tied the score 3-3 with his third home run in as many games.
The Reds had the go-ahead run in scoring position in the fourth and fifth innings, but Davies pitched out of the jams.
Milwaukee got five innings out of its starter, right-hander Zach Davies, who was charged with three earned runs over his 96 pitches.
Perez put the Brewers ahead 4-3 with a solo homer leading off the sixth, but not until a two-minute, 29-second replay review determined the ball reached the seats before caroming back on to the field.
Cincinnati answered when Suarez tripled off Carlos Torres and scored the tying run in the sixth on former Brewer Scooter Gennett's single.
Winker's bloop single skipped past Ryan Braun in left field, driving in two runs to put the Reds ahead 6-4. It was his first career hit and RBIs.
Torres (0-1) was charged with three earned runs in one inning to take the loss.
NOTES: Reds SS Zack Cozart extended his season-opening hitting streak to 10 games with a second-inning triple. ... Reds C Devin Mesoraco is expected to catch back-to-back nine-inning games then another nine-inning game next week before being evaluated for a possible return. ... Brewers C Andrew Susac (trapezius tightness) was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list and optioned to Triple-A Colorado Springs.