Lorenzen Peraza help propel Reds
Jose Peraza hit MILWAUKEE — a two-run homer off Chase Anderson in the first inning, and the Cincinnati Reds beat Milwaukee 3-1 Tuesday night, the Brewers’ third loss in four games.
“The first pitch is just kind of a blooper into center field and then he (Anderson) fell behind Peraza,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “But after six pitches, we’re down 2-0.”
The Brewers’ edge for the top NL wild-card spot was cut to two games by St. Louis, with Colorado also in close contention. Milwaukee fell 3½ games behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs.
Milwaukee managed only three hits against five Cincin- nati pitchers, led by Michael Lorenzen, who was making his first start since 2015 after 151 relief appearances.
“I’ve been saying, ‘Give me a chance, give me a chance.’ T hey gave me a chance against a good lineup, so I was excited about that,” said Lorenzen, who has indicated he would like to be a starter. “It was like, ‘Man, you bet- ter step up.’”
Scott Schebler opened the first with a single to left off Anderson, who has allowed an NL-high 30 home runs. Peraza then connected for his 13th homer.
The Brewers made it 2-1 with an unearned run in the second, but the Reds made it 3-1 in the fourth on Schebler’s RBI double.
Lorenzen allowed one unearned run on one hit in four innings. Sal Romano (8-11) followed with 2⅓ scoreless innings for the victory.
Raisel Iglesias struck out three in the ninth after a leadoff walk for his 28th save.
Anderson (9-8) gave up three runs on six hits with two walks in 3⅔ innings, matching his shortest start of the season. Six relievers blanked the Reds the rest of the way.
“I was just kind of incon- sistent where I could throw the ball tonight,” Anderson said. “One inning I felt I could make a pitch, the next inning I couldn’t.”
In the Milwaukee second, Travis Shaw was hit by a pitch and advanced on a groundout. Shaw came around when Schebler bobbled Jonathan Schoop’s single to right.
Reds center fielder Mason Williams made a sensational, over-the-shoulder basket catch on Curtis Granderson’s one-out drive to the warning track in the sixth. It prevented a possible run as Christian Yelich followed with a single.
“A couple people on the bench thought that ball was gone,” manager Jim Riggleman said. “I didn’t think it was going to go as far as it did. Mase did a great job on it. That one was close. We’re trying to keep it in the ballpark as much as we can. We did a good job of that tonight.”
Trainer’s room: Reds RHP Homer Bailey probably will not pitch again this season, Riggleman said. Bailey (1-14, 6.09 ERA) was removed from the rotation after his last start Sept. 5, and has indicated he can’t relieve.