Brewers 7, Reds 3: Big day for Braun

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http://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2016/08/14/brewers-7-reds-3-big-day-braun/88713906/

There's just something about the Cincinnati Reds that brings out the best in Ryan Braun.

The Milwaukee Brewers leftfielder homered twice and drove in six runs, almost single-handedly powering the Milwaukee Brewers' offense in an eventual 7-3 victory over the Reds on Sunday afternoon at Miller Park.

All of Braun's damage came in the first four innings as the Brewers gave Wily Peralta a quick 6-0 lead with which to work. Braun has homered 35 times against Cincinnati, more than any other player in the major leagues since his debut season in 2007.

It was also Braun's 26th career multiple-homer game, his fourth this season and second in his last eight games. He's now homered in consecutive games and in four of his last five as well.

Brewers 7, Reds 3: Box score

Braun became just the third player in franchise history to record two 6-RBI games in a season, joining Jonathan Lucroy (2012) and Geoff Jenkins (2001). Braun tied a franchise mark with seven RBI in his previous two-homer game on Aug. 6 in Arizona.

"I try to have the same approach against everybody – hope that when you get pitches to hit you don't miss them, regardless of who the pitcher is, who the opponent is," Braun said. "Over the last couple weeks I've swung the bat pretty well and the pitches that I have gotten to hit, I haven't missed many of them.

"That's what leads to sustained success."

The Brewers were as productive as a team could be in the first inning with minimal swings of the bat.

Taking advantage of rookie Cody Reed's lack of command and backup catcher Ramon Cabrera, they sent all nine batters to the plate and took a 3-0 lead despite registering just two hits.
The big blow was a two-RBI double by Braun. The Brewers added their third run later in the frame when Jake Elmore was hit in the foot by a Reed pitch with the bases loaded.

All told, the Brewers stole four bases and drew three walks in addition to Elmore's plunking as Reed was forced to throw 46 pitches.

Reed lasted only three more batters. Keon Broxton greeted him with a leadoff double in the second, Orlando Arcia bunted for a single to put runners on the corners and Braun followed with a mammoth 450-foot blast off the scoreboard in center to double Milwaukee's lead at 6-0.

Braun's second homer of the day came in the fourth, a laser beam just over the wall in left that made the score to 7-0. Braun upped his season total to 22, and he has 65 RBI, one fewer than team leader Chris Carter. His .328 average ranks fourth in the National League.

"He's really locked in and producing, for sure," manager Craig Counsell said. "We were worried a little about what would happen after losing the hitter behind him (Jonathan Lucroy, who was traded) but he's responded really well and he's certainly been swinging the bat great and been really locked in."

Peralta (5-8) mostly sailed through his outing, allowing four hits, one run (earned) and a walk while striking out five over 100 pitches. He topped out as high as 99 mph on the radar gun in the second inning, and the Reds scored their lone run against him on a Joey Votto bloop double in the sixth.

"It feels great," Peralta said. "I think I'm in good shape right now. My mechanics have been pretty good. that's one of the reasons my velocity has been there, has been up in my last few starts.

"Just being consistent in my delivery, that's all."

It was the second consecutive solid start turned in Peralta since his recall from Class AAA Colorado Springs on Aug. 8, and his first victory with the Brewers since June 11.

"It was more of the same," Counsell said. "Good velocity and he mixed in his off-speed pitches more. It was another very positive outing. A little tool for him to definitely have some confidence with."

Braun said the difference in Peralta has been marked.

"It's exciting and encouraging," he said. "This is the guy that we all thought he could be and that he would turn into. His stuff is significantly better than it was earlier in the year. His body language, his demeanor, everything's better. Much better command of his off-speed pitches, he's getting a lot more swings and misses. His velocity's up.

"It's everything that you could hope to see in a pitcher, and I think this is the guy we all hoped to see and expected to see from the beginning of the year."
 
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