Phillips, Reds beat Brewers 5-4 in 11 innings

[September 10, 2008]  MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Brandon Phillips hit a go-ahead single with two outs in the 11th inning, moments after apparently breaking his finger on a bunt attempt, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the slumping Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 on Tuesday night.

Brandon Phillips hit a go-ahead single with two outs in the 11th inning, moments after apparently breaking his finger on a bunt attempt, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the slumping Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 on Tuesday night.

The Brewers missed a chance to gain ground in the playoff race. They remained 4 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central and three ahead of Philadelphia in the wild-card standings with 17 to play.

Edwin Encarnacion and Jay Bruce hit consecutive homers in the sixth, helping the Reds hand Milwaukee its third straight loss and seventh in nine games.

Seth McClung (5-6), the Brewers' seventh reliever, started the 11th and took the loss.

He struck out Chris Dickerson, but then Corey Patterson laced a double to the wall in left. Patterson went to third on Jeff Keppinger's grounder to second. Joey Votto was intentionally walked to bring up Phillips, who first tried to bunt for a hit. But he fouled off the pitch, apparently breaking his right index finger in the process.

Phillips showed no signs of an injury, getting right back in the batter's box. Then he punched a 1-1 pitch into right-center to score Patterson.

After the game, Phillips had tears in his eyes in the clubhouse. Reds spokesman Rob Butcher said Phillips had a broken finger and was headed back to Cincinnati to see a team doctor.

The second baseman was not available for comment.

Jon Adkins (1-0) got the win by retiring Mike Cameron with a runner at second to end the 10th. The Reds purchased Adkins' contract from Triple-A Louisville before the game. He led the International League with 30 saves.

Francisco Cordero pitched the 11th for his ninth straight save and 29th in 35 chances. He retired the side in order.

Reds starter Ramon Ramirez pitched a one-hit gem through six innings in his second career start and left with a 4-1 lead that the Brewers erased on Ray Durham's pinch-hit, three-run homer in the seventh.

Jared Burton, who was making his fourth appearance since coming off the 15-day disabled list on Sept. 1, started the seventh in relief of Ramirez, who left for a pinch hitter.

Durham batted for reliever Carlos Villanueva and hit a 1-1 delivery over the fence in right after Burton walked Bill Hall and hit Jason Kendall with a pitch, spoiling Ramirez's great start.

Ramirez worked out of big trouble in the first as he stranded the bases loaded after Prince Fielder's RBI single.

That was the only hit Ramirez allowed in his third appearance since being recalled Aug. 30 from Louisville. He walked four and struck out four, retiring the side in order his last four innings. It was the second time in a row that the bullpen failed to hold his lead.

Ramirez made his major league debut on Aug. 30 and was the victim of a blown save in Cincinnati's 7-6 win.

Cincinnati tied it on Patterson's sacrifice fly in the fifth.

Encarnacion's 25th homer was a two-run shot in the sixth. Bruce followed with his 17th, the eighth time the Reds have hit back-to-back homers this season.

That chased Milwaukee starter Jeff Suppan, who went 5-0 in six August starts but has lost twice this month. He gave up six hits and walked two.

(This version UPDATES with Phillips' broken finger and CORRECTS to two outs on go-ahead hit.)

[Associated Press]

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