Cain comes through with 10th-inning homer

CINCINNATI - Lorenzo Cain to the rescue.

Stuck in another extra-innings game that began less than 12 hours after the previous one had concluded, the veteran centerfielder did his part to end the proceedings as expeditiously as possible.

He homered to left on the first pitch he saw in the 11th inning, and that was enough to lift the Milwaukee Brewers to a 2-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on Thursday afternoon.

“Eddie (Sedar, Brewers’ third-base coach) gave me a motivational speech going into it. ‘Unless you do something about it, we’re going to play 18 innings,’” Cain said. “So I took it to heart.”

Extra innings were the last thing the Brewers needed after burning through their bullpen the previous two nights. But starter Wade Miley threw a strong 71⁄3 innings, and the combination of Dan Jennings, Jordan Lyles, Corbin Burnes and Joakim Soria got the game to the 11th for Milwaukee.

Cain then stepped to the plate against right-hander Austin Brice, who had just been recalled from Class AAA Louisville earlier in the day. Cain connected on Brice’s first offering, a 95mph sinker, and sent a drive to left that bounced on the top of the wall and into the stands.

It was Cain’s 10th of the season and the 22nd game the Brewers went deep at Great American Ball Park, extending their record at the facility.

“When I hit it, I thought double for sure,” said Cain, who extended his hitting streak to a career-best 12 games with a fifth-inning single.

“But we’re in Cincinnati, so you just never know here. It ended up sneaking out for me.”

Josh Hader pitched a 1-2-3 bottom half, mowing through Scooter Gennett and Joey Votto in the process, to earn his 11th save and Milwaukee its third consecutive series victory.

TAKEAWAYS

ROSTER MOVES: Before the finale, the Brewers recalled Jacob Barnes and selected the contract of Aaron Brooks from Class AAA Colorado Springs while optioning out Freddy Peralta and Taylor Williams. The Brewers also designated right-hander Ariel Hernández for assignment.

TOUGH DECISIONS: The Brewers had little choice but to option out Peralta and Williams because the bullpen had to cover a combined 131⁄3 innings in Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s games.

WELCOME BACK: With Peralta heading out, Zach Davies will take his spot in the rotation beginning Monday against the Chicago Cubs at Miller Park. The initial thought was he’d replace Junior Guerra, but Guerra will remain in the rotation for now and start Sunday against Max Scherzer in Washington.

SORE BUT OK: Manny Piña had five stitches in a fat lip but otherwise was in good spirits Wednesday, the day after a pitch ricocheted off his left shoulder and hit him in the mouth. Counsell said the plan is to not use Piña for the next few days and that a catcher will be among the team’s initial call-ups Saturday.

RECORD

This year: 75-60 Last year: 71-64

COMING UP

Friday: Brewers at Nationals, 6:05 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Jhoulys Chacín (13-5, 3.61) vs. Washington RHP Tanner Roark (8-13, 3.95). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.