Fiers perfect through 6, Brewers beat Reds 3-1

MILWAUKEE – Despite watching his team lose its third straight game on Tuesday night, Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker was feeling confident it was only a temporary setback for his NL Central-leading team.

That's because the Reds ran into a hot pitcher in Mike Fiers of the Milwaukee Brewers and Baker knew there was not much his hitters could do against him.

Fiers took a perfect game into the seventh inning to lead the Brewers to a 3-1 win over the Reds.

The Reds have lost three straight for the first time since July 2-5, but still lead the NL Central by 3 1-2 games over second-place Pittsburgh.

"The problem was their pitcher," Baker said. "He pitched a great game. That's one of the best games pitched against us in a long time."

Baker said he was confident his team could quickly turn it around. Before its current losing streak, the Reds had won 22 of 25 games.

"We'll get it together and make another nice run," he said.

Johnny Cueto (14-6) pitched seven innings for the Reds, giving up three runs and six hits while striking out nine. He was trying to become the first NL pitcher to reach 15 wins this season.

"You've got to give him (Fiers) credit," Cueto said through an interpreter. "I pitched well, but it went in his favor tonight."

Fiers (6-4) retired the first 18 batters before Zack Cozart doubled to left-center leading off the seventh. He advanced to third on a fly ball and scored on Brandon Phillips' sacrifice fly.

"The pitch I hit was a cutter," Cozart said. "He had his stuff working tonight. Just when you thought you'd get a fastball, he'd throw you something else."

The only other hits Fiers gave up were eighth-inning singles to Xavier Paul and Ryan Hanigan. The right-hander struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick to get out of the inning and left the field to a standing ovation.

Fiers said he was aware he was throwing a no-hitter, but stayed focus as his team was only leading by two runs at the time.

"Every start I go out there I don't want to give up a hit, but when it got into the sixth and seventh inning, thoughts came into my mind even more," he said. "I'm just trying to put zeroes on the board, no matter if they get 10 hits or zero hits. I just tried to keep my cool and not think about it."

The Brewers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Aramis Ramirez's 15th home run, a 425-foot shot to the Milwaukee bullpen in left-center. It was the second consecutive game in which Ramirez hit a home run against the Reds.

Jean Segura's RBI groundout in the seventh increased the lead to 3-1. It was Segura's first career RBI.

NOTES: Baker said 1B Joey Votto would not be activated from the DL on the team's current seven-game road trip, which ends Sunday in Chicago. Votto had arthroscopic surgery on the knee on July 17. ... Brewers RHP Shaun Marcum, on the DL since June 15 with right elbow tightness, will make a rehabilitation start Thursday with Class-A Wisconsin. ... The series concludes Wednesday when the Reds send Mat Latos (10-3) to the mound against Randy Wolf (3-8).

There are no items to show in this view of the "Sports Desk" discussion board.

Add new discussion

View in Web Browser/news/sports/_layouts/VisioWebAccess/VisioWebAccess.aspx?listguid(equals)(ListId)&itemid(equals)(ItemId)&DefaultItemOpen(equals)10x00x1FileTypevdw255Edit in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&DefaultItemOpen(equals)1&Edit(equals)10x00x25FileTypexlsx256Edit in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&DefaultItemOpen(equals)1&Edit(equals)10x00x25FileTypexlsm256Edit in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&DefaultItemOpen(equals)1&Edit(equals)10x00x25FileTypexlsb256Edit in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&DefaultItemOpen(equals)1&Edit(equals)10x00x25FileTypeods256Edit in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)EditView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x4FileTypepptx256Edit in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)EditView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x4FileTypeppsx256Edit in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)EditView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x4FileTypeodp256View in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/WordViewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypedocx255Edit in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/WordEditor.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x4FileTypedocx255View in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/WordViewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypedoc255View in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/WordViewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypedotx255View in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/WordViewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypedot255View in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/WordViewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypedotm255View in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/WordViewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypedocm255Edit in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/WordEditor.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypedocm255View in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/WordViewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypeodt255Edit in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/WordEditor.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x4FileTypeodt255View in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/OneNote.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&Edit(equals)0&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypeone255Edit in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/OneNote.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&Edit(equals)1&source(equals)(Source)0x00x4FileTypeone255View in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/OneNote.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&Edit(equals)0&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1ProgIdOneNote.Notebook252Edit in Browser(SiteUrl)/_layouts/OneNote.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&Edit(equals)1&source(equals)(Source)0x00x4ProgIdOneNote.Notebook254Compliance Detailsjavascript:commonShowModalDialog('(SiteUrl)/_layouts/itemexpiration.aspx?ID(equals)(ItemId)&List(equals)(ListId)', 'center:1;dialogHeight:500px;dialogWidth:500px;resizable:yes;status:no;location:no;menubar:no;help:no', function GotoPageAfterClose(pageid)(if(pageid (equals)(equals) 'hold') (STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('(SiteUrl)'))+'/_layouts/hold.aspx?ID(equals)(ItemId)&List(equals)(ListId)'); return false;) if(pageid (equals)(equals) 'audit') (STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('(SiteUrl)'))+'/_layouts/Reporting.aspx?Category(equals)Auditing&backtype(equals)item&ID(equals)(ItemId)&List(equals)(ListId)'); return false;) if(pageid (equals)(equals) 'config') (STSNavigate(unescape(decodeURI('(SiteUrl)'))+'/_layouts/expirationconfig.aspx?ID(equals)(ItemId)&List(equals)(ListId)'); return false;)), null); return false;0x00x1ContentType0x01898Edit in Browser/_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif/news/sports/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XsnLocation(equals)(ItemUrl)&OpenIn(equals)Browser&Source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypexsn255Edit in Browser/_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif/news/sports/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation(equals)(ItemUrl)&OpenIn(equals)Browser&Source(equals)(Source)0x00x1ProgIdInfoPath.Document255Edit in Browser/_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif/news/sports/ — layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation(equals)(ItemUrl)&OpenIn(equals)Browser&Source(equals)(Source)0x00x1ProgIdInfoPath.Document.2255Edit in Browser/_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif/news/sports/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation(equals)(ItemUrl)&OpenIn(equals)Browser&Source(equals)(Source)0x00x1ProgIdInfoPath.Document.3255Edit in Browser/_layouts/images/icxddoc.gif/news/sports/_layouts/formserver.aspx?XmlLocation(equals)(ItemUrl)&OpenIn(equals)Browser&Source(equals)(Source)0x00x1ProgIdInfoPath.Document.4255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&DefaultItemOpen(equals)10x00x1FileTypexlsx255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&DefaultItemOpen(equals)10x00x1FileTypexlsm255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&DefaultItemOpen(equals)10x00x1FileTypexlsb255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/xlviewer.aspx?id(equals)(ItemUrl)&DefaultItemOpen(equals)10x00x1FileTypeods255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)ReadingView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypepptx255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)ReadingView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypeppt255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)ReadingView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypepptm255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)ReadingView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypeppsx255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)ReadingView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypeppsm255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)ReadingView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypepps255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)ReadingView&PresentationId(equ als)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypepotx255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)ReadingView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypepotm255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)ReadingView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypepot255View in Browser/news/sports/_layouts/PowerPoint.aspx?PowerPointView(equals)ReadingView&PresentationId(equals)(ItemUrl)&source(equals)(Source)0x00x1FileTypeodp255

Milwaukee Brewers manager Ron Roenicke has seen enough of what pitcher Mike Fiers has done for his team this season that he is ready to start promoting him for NL Rookie of the Year.

Fiers was very impressive again Tuesday night as he took a perfect game into the seventh inning and led the Brewers to a 3-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

Fiers (6-4) retired the first 18 batters before Zack Cozart doubled to left-center leading off the seventh. He advanced to third on a fly ball and scored on Brandon Phillips' sacrifice fly.

"He pitched an outstanding ball game," Roenicke said. "Absolutely, he has to be put in that conversation (for Rookie of the Year). He's been baffling hitters. And not just average hitters, he's been doing it against some very strong lineups."

Fiers said he was aware he was throwing a no-hitter, but stayed focus as his team was only leading by two runs at the time.

Fiers said he thought he threw a good pitch to Cozart, but the Reds shortstop went out and got the pitch.

"He got the barrel on it and he hit it in a good spot," he said. "I felt great out there."

Fiers has been terrific since he was called up from Triple-A Nashville on May 29. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last nine starts, going 5-2 with a 1.03 ERA and racking up 61 strikeouts in 61 innings.

Roenicke said it was time for everyone to realize that Fiers could pitch in the major leagues.

"I think he's shown he can pitch," he said. "He's a battler. He baffles guys with all the different stuff he throws."

Jim Henderson pitched a scoreless ninth for his first career save. It was Milwaukee's second consecutive win over the NL Central leaders and its fifth straight victory at home.

The Reds have lost three straight for the first time since July 2-5. They remained 3 1-2 games ahead of second-place Pittsburgh.

Reds manager Dusty Baker said the problem for Cincinnati was Fiers.

"That's one of the best games pitched against us in a long time," Baker said. "There's not a lot we could do. He's very deceptive with that Tim Lincecum-like delivery."

Johnny Cueto (14-6) pitched seven innings for the Reds, giving up three runs and six hits while striking out nine. He was trying to become the first NL pitcher to reach 15 wins this season.

Jean Segura's RBI groundout in the seventh increased the lead to 3-1. It was Segura's first career RBI.

NOTES: Baker said 1B Joey Votto would not be activated from the DL on the team's current seven-game road trip, which ends Sunday in Chicago. Votto had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on July 17. ... Brewers RHP Shaun Marcum, on the DL since June 15 with right elbow tightness, will make a rehabilitation start Thursday with Class-A Wisconsin. ... The series concludes Wednesday when the Reds send Mat Latos (10-3) to the mound against Randy Wolf (3-8).