CINCINNATI, May 10 (UPI) -- Richie Sexson hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the third inning and Alex Sanchez drove in three runs Saturday night as the Milwaukee Brewers snapped the Cincinnati Reds' season-best five-game winning streak, 9-3.
Cincinnati had won 13 of its previous 18 games to reach .500 for the first time since Opening Day, including three victories in the bottom of the ninth or 10th since Monday. But the Reds could not rally this time and saw their six-game home winning streak snapped.
The game was tied, 1-1, with two outs in the top of the third when Eric Young drew a walk from John Riedling (0-1) and Sexson followed with an upper deck homer to left field. It was Sexson's National League-leading 12th home run and the first to reach the upper deck at Great American Ball Park.
Milwaukee stretched its lead to 5-1 one inning later on a sacrifice fly by Royce Clayton and an RBI groundout by Sanchez.
The Reds trailed, 6-3, with one out and runners at first and second in the bottom of the eighth, but Curtis Leskanic replaced John Foster and promptly struck out Jose Guillen and Sean Casey to end the threat.
Sanchez added a two-run double and Scott Podsednik drew a bases-loaded walk against Scott Sullivan in the top of the ninth to cap the scoring.
Ben Sheets (4-3) allowed two runs and 10 hits in six innings to pick up the victory.
Making just his second start, Riedling surrendered six runs and six hits in four innings. Ryan Dempster, who had made 133 straight starts, pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief, though he did allow five walks.
The Reds' five pitchers gave up a season-high 13 walks. Sexson, Podsednik and Keith Osik each drew three.
