Sean Halton's homer in ninth lifts Brewers over Reds
MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Sean Halton hit a solo homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Milwaukee Brewers to a 6-5 comeback victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
Halton's home run came off reliever Zach Duke (1-2), the fifth Cincinnati pitcher. It was Halton's third homer of the season and first career walk-off.
Jean Segura sparked a rally with a two-run triple and Carlos Gomez made a game-saving catch for Milwaukee, which dealt a big blow to the Reds' pursuit of the NL Central title. The Brewers entered the eighth trailing 5-2. Segura's hit came after Reds relievers walked the first two batters of the inning. Jonathan Lucroy followed with a sacrifice fly to tie it.
Jim Henderson (4-5) pitched a scoreless inning in relief to pick up the win.
Gomez robbed Jay Bruce of what would have been a three-run homer in the ninth when he extended over the center field fence with two outs.
The Brewers survived a shaky outing by starter Yovani Gallardo, who was tagged for five runs on seven hits over six innings. He walked three and struck out five.
Reds starter Bronson Arroyo pitched effectively into the seventh, surrendering two runs on three hits over 6 1/3 innings. He walked four, struck out one and didn't give up a hit until Segura singled leading off the fourth.
The Reds, who lead the NL wild card race and remain in the hunt for a division title, got on the board in the first inning when Gallardo labored through a 39-pitch inning.
Brandon Phillips had a run-scoring single, Ryan Ludwick drew a bases-loaded walk and Zach Cozart delivered a sacrifice fly to help the Reds jump out to a 3-0 lead. Gallardo faced eight batters in the opening frame.
Todd Frazier's RBI single with two outs in the third extended Cincinnati's lead to 4-0.
Caleb Gindl's leadoff homer in the fifth gave Milwaukee its first run of the game, cutting the lead to 4-1.
Frazier's homer leading off the sixth to push the Reds' advantage back to four.
Arroyo got into a bit of trouble in the seventh. He walked the first two batters before retiring Gindl on a fly ball. He departed after issuing his third walk of the inning. The Brewers then scored a run on a fielder's choice, but Cincinnati reliever Sam LeCure retired Jeff Bianchi on a grounder out to end the threat.
Notes: Reds RHP Johnny Cueto, who hasn't pitched since June 28 due to an injured lat muscle, is scheduled to start Monday against Houston. . . . Reds manager Dusty Baker offered congratulations to Wladmir Balentien, who set the Japanese single-season record Sunday when he hit his 57th home run. Balentien played for the Reds in 2009, the last season he appeared in MLB. "I am glad for him. He always had the potential. He had a problem conforming to some things and he learned some lessons. Who knows, maybe he will play his way back over here." . . . Arroyo reached 30 starts for the ninth consecutive season, an active streak bettered only by Toronto's Mark Buehrle, who has done it 13 years in a row.