MILWAUKEE (AP) — Rookie Freddy Peralta tossed seven scoreless innings and drove in a run with his first career hit, combining with two relievers on a five-hitter to lead the Milwaukee Brewers past the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 on Wednesday.
Christian Yelich homered and finished a triple shy of the cycle, reaching base five times and driving in two runs for Milwaukee. He opened the first with his 21st homer, doubled in the third, walked in the fourth and singled in the sixth and eighth.
Peralta (6-4) allowed just three singles, striking out seven and walking two to win for the second time in seven starts. The 22-year-old right-hander did not allow a hit until Jose Peraza’s single to open the fourth.
Peralta was 0-for-22 with 11 strikeouts this season before he drove in the Brewers’ second run with a fourth-inning single. He advanced the runners with his first career sacrifice bunt when the Brewers added two runs in the sixth.
Milwaukee has won three of four after losing four of its previous five.
Robert Stephenson (0-2) allowed four runs on nine hits in five innings, walking three and striking out four.
The Reds loaded the bases in the eighth against Taylor Williams, but Jeremy Jeffress came on and retired Scooter Gennett on a flyball to left, and then finished with a perfect ninth for his sixth save in 10 opportunities.
With one out in the fourth, Ryan Braun doubled off the glove of diving left-fielder Phillip Ervin. Manny Pina was intentionally walked with two outs to get to Peralta, who responded with single up the middle.
The Brewers made it 4-0 in the sixth when Jonathan Schoop and Pina singled and advanced on Peralta’s bunt. Yelich and Lorenzo Cain followed with consecutive RBI singles.
Sloppy baserunning cost Milwaukee a couple of early runs. Braun doubled with one out in the second, but was caught off the bag on Schoop’s fielder’s-choice grounder to shortstop. Pina then followed with a single.
Yelich doubled to open the third, but was caught stealing. Cain then singled.
The Brewers also left the bases loaded in the fourth when Cain struck out looking.
BREWERS MOVES
RHP Matt Albers (left hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list and OF Keon Broxton was optioned to Class-A Wisconsin. Albers is 3-3 with a 6.23 ERA in 29 relief appearances with the Brewers. Broxton’s move was procedural, allowing him to remain in Milwaukee while his paternity leave is pending.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
Yelich appeared to steal third after his third-inning double but was called out as third baseman Dilson Herrera blocked the bag with his foot. The Brewers challenged, but the call was upheld after a review estimated at 1 minute, 1 second.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: OF Scott Schebler (right shoulder) is expected to come off the DL on Thursday or Friday, when Cincinnati faces the Cubs. Schebler might not start against lefty Cole Hamels on Thursday night even if activated. … 1B Joey Votto (lower right leg) is eligible to come off the DL on Sunday and will do that if ready. “If he says he’s ready to go Sunday, he will play Sunday,” manager Jim Riggleman said. “Yesterday he said he felt really good. We have three or four more days to evaluate him.”
UP NEXT
Reds: Right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (6-3, 4.12 ERA) starts the opener of four-game series Thursday against the Cubs. He is 2-0 with a 0.83 ERA in three starts in August, allowing one run in his last 19 2/3 innings.
Brewers: An after off day, left-hander Wade Miley (2-2, 2.18) opens a three-game series at home Friday against the Pirates, who counter with Joe Musgrove (5-7, 3.31). Miley is 1-2 in seven starts since coming off the DL in mid-July.
