Cain homer closes out wild 24 hours

CINCINNATI — After a long night followed by a full day under the sun, Lorenzo Cain just wanted the game to end.

With the Brewers winning, of course.

Cain did his part, hitting a home run off the top of the left field fence in the 11th inning that lifted the Brewers over the Reds 2-1 Thursday.

NL batting leader Christian Yelich went 0-for-4 with a basesloaded walk for the Brewers. On Wednesday night, he went 6for-6 and hit for the cycle as the Brewers outlasted the Reds 13-12 in 10 innings. That’s 21 innings in less than 24 hours.

“It’s been tough on the body, this series,” Cain said. “When I hit it, I knew it was a double for sure, but this is Cincinnati, so you never know.”

The playoff-contending Brewers totaled just six hits in their latest victory. Cain hit the first pitch from Austin Brice (2-3), and the ball hit the wall and bounced over for his 10th home run.

“We got there a little different way today,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “It was a polar opposite from yesterday. It was hard to tell we were playing by the same rules.”

Brice, recalled from Triple-A Louisville before the game, left with what Reds interim manager Jim Riggleman said was an irregular heartbeat.

“I’ve had some stuff go on,” Brice said. “I’ve had it checked out. It always comes up negative. It’s always like an electrolyte imbalance.”

The Brewers have homered in 22 straight games at Great American Ball Park. It’s the longest streak by any team at the stadium, including the Reds.

Joakim Soria (1-0) struck out two in a scoreless 10th to get the win. Josh Hader pitched the 11th for his 11th save.