Jimmy Nelson

Offense struggles early as Brewers fall to Reds

Published Aug. 13, 2016 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

MILWAUKEE -- Manny Pina had a night he'd never forget.

Pina hit a pinch-hit three-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning in the Milwaukee Brewers' 7-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.

"Yesterday was my first RBI in the big leagues and today was my first homer," Pina said. "It's an amazing moment."

Pina, who took the roster spot vacated when Jonathan Lucroy was traded, has appeared in six games and came from Detroit in the trade that sent former closer Francisco Rodriguez to Detroit.

Pina has been savoring every minute in the majors, letting manager Craig Counsell know he'd be available any time.

"I'll be ready when he needs me. If he needs me in three days, if he needs me back-to-back, if he needs me in the ninth inning," Pina said. "I'll be focused and ready for every moment."

Not much else went right for the Brewers.

Reds starter Homer Bailey (2-1) struck out 11 in six scoreless innings in his third game back from Tommy John surgery and Cincinnati built a 7-0 lead before Ramon Flores hit a solo shot in the eighth and Pina's homer in the ninth.

Brewers starter Jimmy Nelson (6-12) labored through five innings, allowing three runs off six hits and three walks.

"Other than the Duvall homer, there wasn't a ton of hard contact. That's where Jimmy's at," Counsell said. "That's why being in the strike zone, being around the strike zone with close misses is so important."

MAN OF STEAL

Billy Hamilton stole bases on back-to-back pitches in the second and swiped his 51st base in the fourth, but was caught stealing later in the inning on a nice pickoff play by Nelson. Hamilton has 12 steals in his last five games.

OFFENSE EVAPORATES

The Brewers didn't score until the eighth after they became the eighth team since 1961 to score in every inning they hit in in an 11-3 victory over Atlanta on Thursday.

COUNSELL EJECTED

Counsell was ejected by plate umpire Bill Miller before the eighth.

"We had a little disagreement about balls and strikes," Counsell said.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: Both Scott Schebler (calf) and Brandon Phillips (quad) returned to the lineup after both left Tuesday's win over the Cardinals. Cincinnati had a day off on Thursday.

UP NEXT

Reds: Dan Straily (7-6, 3.76 ERA) is 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in his last five starts for Cincinnati, which is 16-10 since the All-Star break.

Brewers: Milwaukee sends Zach Davies (9-4, 3.58) to the mound. Davies is 9-1 with a 2.92 ERA in his last 17 starts.