Milwaukee, WI – Yovani Gallardo pitched into the seventh inning as the Milwaukee Brewers blanked the Cincinnati Reds, 2-0, in the third meeting of a four-game set.
Gallardo (9-9), activated from the disabled list prior to the contest, gave up three hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Logan Schafer added a two-run double for the Brewers, who have taken the last two games of this set.
Mat Latos (12-4) was the hard-luck loser, as he gave up just two runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts in seven innings of work for the Reds, who had won five straight prior to Friday's loss to Milwaukee and remained 3 1/2 games back of the Pittsburgh Pirates for first place in the NL Central.
"I put myself in a jam earlier in the game and wasn't able to get strike one," said Latos. "Strike one is one of the most important pitches in this game. Fell behind and basically let them hit whatever they want to hit."
Cincinnati, though, still holds a comfortable lead in the chase for a wild card spot.
The game was scoreless until the fourth inning, when Milwaukee went on top with a two-out rally. Khris Davis kept the inning alive with a single and Scooter Gennett followed with a base hit. Schafer then lofted a double to right to plate both runners for a 2-0 advantage.
"Huge hit and great job by the two guys in front of him," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke on Schafer's double. "Logan got the big hit, he needed that. He's been pressing like anybody would and that was a huge hit."
Gallardo went through the Reds' lineup without a blemish the first time around, but allowed two men to reach base in the fourth with two outs before picking off Brandon Phillips at first.
Zack Cozart hit into a double play to end the fifth, and the Reds stranded a runner in the sixth.
Cincinnati loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but Xavier Paul hit into a 4-6-3 double play against Brandon Kintzler to end the threat.
Kintzler then pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning, while Jim Henderson struck out the side in the ninth for his 18th save of the season.
Game Notes
Latos had won four straight decisions over his previous five starts coming into Saturday ... The season series sits at 7-5 in Cincinnati's favor ... Latos is now 2-3 in seven career starts against the Brewers ... Gallardo moved to 7-6 in 18 career games against the Reds.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.