Milwaukee, WI (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Clark hit a three-run homer to highlight a five-run seventh inning as the Milwaukee Brewers topped the Cincinnati Reds 9-2 in the rubber match of a three-game series at Miller Park.
Jonathan Lucroy had three hits and two RBI for the Brewers, who remained 1 1/2 games behind Pittsburgh for the NL's second wild-card spot. Matt Garza (8-8) gave up a run on four hits, walked three and struck out six in six-plus innings.
Todd Frazier hit a solo home run in the sixth for the Reds, while Mike Leake (11-12) allowed three runs on eight hits and walked three over six innings.
Leake pitched out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam in the first and ran into trouble again in the second. Mark Reynolds led off with a walk and Jean Segura followed with a single. After being sacrificed to third by Garza, Reynolds scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Gomez.
Lucroy singled home two in the fourth to make it 3-0, and the Brewers blew the game open against the Cincinnati bullpen.
Logan Ondrusek gave up three straight hits to begin the seventh, the last Clark's blast to right field. After giving up consecutive singles with two outs, Ondrusek was replaced by Carlos Contreras. Scooter Gennett hit an RBI single and back-to-backs walks by Lucroy and Ryan Braun forced in another run.
Game Notes
Reynolds homered in the eighth ... Ryan Ludwick had two hits for Cincinnati, including an RBI single in the ninth ... The Brewers were 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and finished with 15 hits.
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