Anthony DeSclafani fired eight shutout innings and the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Milwaukee Brewers 6-1 in the opener of a four-game set.
DeSclafani (2-0) gave up just two hits and a walk and struck out five for the Reds, who snapped a four-game losing streak.
Zack Cozart smacked a three-run homer and Joey Votto cracked a two-run shot among his two hits in the triumph.
Wily Peralta (0-2) surrendered six runs on with hits and three walks with five strikeouts over seven frames for Milwaukee, which has dropped six straight games.
The game was scoreless through five innings before the Reds broke the game open with four runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh.
Votto and Jay Bruce sandwiched singles around a Todd Frazier walk to start the sixth. Marlon Byrd grounded into a force at the plate when he bounced one to third, but Bryan Pena followed with a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Votto.
Cozart stepped up next and launched his three-run shot into the seats in left.
Billy Hamilton ripped a triple into the gap in right-center with one out in the seventh, then Votto followed with a towering two-run shot to left center for a 6-0 lead.
Ryan Braun's solo blast in the ninth provided the lone run for the Brewers.
Game Notes
Votto's homer was his fifth of the season ... Sixty-seven of DeSclafani's 91 pitches were strikes. His ERA fell to a minuscule 0.86 on the season ... Milwaukee didn't get its first hit until there was two outs in the fourth when Adam Lind doubled.
[SportsNetwork.com]
