Reds, Brewers close out set at Miller Park

Two starters with seven wins in eight decisions get together this afternoon, when the Cincinnati Reds visit Miller Park for the finale of a three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Reds send Dominican righty Johnny Cueto to the mound on a three-start win streak and with six consecutive unbeaten appearances.

His most recent outing was May 4 at Pittsburgh, when he went the full nine- inning route and allowed a single run on seven hits in a 6-1 defeat of the host Pirates.

In his last three starts - all wins - he's thrown 22 1/3 innings, allowed 17 hits and just two earned runs with three walks and 14 strikeouts.

Cueto has made nine career starts against Milwaukee and split four decisions with a 4.25 earned run average across 53 innings.

Starting for the Brewers will be Florida-born righty Zack Greinke, who split his initial two decisions on April 7 and 12 and has subsequently gone 2-0 in four outings - all of which were won by Milwaukee.

His last win came April 29 at St. Louis, a 3-2 triumph in which he surrendered a run on seven hits in six innings.

Milwaukee is 5-1 in his six starts and have outscored foes, 24-21.

Greinke hasn't lost in four career starts against Cincinnati, winning three decisions with a 2.57 earned run average while walking eight batters, striking out 38 and allowing 10 runs in 28 innings.

On Tuesday, Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run triple, Jonathan Lucroy hit a two- run single and the Brewers handled the Reds, 8-3.

Yovani Gallardo (2-3) earned the win, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings. He walked two, struck out eight and added an RBI single.

Cesar Izturis hit a solo homer for Milwaukee, which halted a three-game skid.

"They capitalized all day," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "They got clutch hits all night long."

Homer Bailey (1-3) lasted just 3 2/3 innings and gave up six runs on six hits in the loss. Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer for the Reds, who had won two straight.

Scott Rolen added an RBI double for Cincinnati. It was the 506th two-bagger of his career, which ties him with Babe Ruth for 48th on the all-time list.

The Reds and Brewers split 16 meetings a season ago, with Milwaukee winning the final four encounters.