Wade Miley pitched eight-plus effective innings, slumping Jesse Winker delivered a clutch RBI double and made a key defensive play as the visiting Cincinnati Reds beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-0 Friday night.
Miley (7-4) won his third straight decision by allowing seven hits and no runs for the fourth start this season. The veteran left-hander struck out four, walked three and threw 104 pitches while producing his second-longest outing of the season.
Miley’s night ended when he allowed a double to Avisail Garcia on his first pitch of the ninth. Heath Hembree struck out the side and converted his fifth save in six chances.
Winker entered the game in a 1-for-25 skid and went hitless in his first two at-bats.
Miley preceded Winker’s double when he opened the seventh with a double off reliever Miguel Sanchez to right field. He advanced to third when Garcia’s throw skipped past shortstop Willy Adames.
It was Miley’s sixth career double and first since Sept. 19, 2013 against the Los Angeles Dodgers when he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
After rookie Jonathan India struck out, Winker ended an 11-pitch at-bat against Sanchez by lining a double to right and Miley easily scored. Winker got the clutch double after fouling off the previous four pitches.
Winker then aided Miley with his seventh career assist as a left fielder.
Jace Peterson opened the seventh with a single to left field on a ball that deflected off center fielder Aristides Aquino to Winker. Winker fielded the ball and made a perfect throw to India at second for the out.
Miley allowed a double to Keston Hiura and easily finished the seventh. He issued a one-out walk to Adames before escaping the eighth.
Christian Yelich hit a hard grounder that appeared to be headed down the left-field line, but third baseman Eugenio Suarez ranged to his left and made an off-balanced jump throw to second base. Adames slid into shortstop Kyle Farmer and was called for interference, resulting in a double play.
Tucker Barnhart hit an RBI double in the fourth for the Reds, who won for the fourth time in five visits to Milwaukee this season.
The Brewers lost for the fourth time in 17 games and wasted a strong outing from Eric Lauer (3-4), who allowed one run on four hits in six innings. Lauer struck out three and tied a season high by issuing four walks.
–Field Level Media