Dunn's homers back Volquez's arm in Reds' win over Brewers

Associated Press  —  7/12/2008 9:42 pm

MILWAUKEE -- Edinson Volquez struck out 10 in seven sharp innings for his 12th win, and Adam Dunn homered twice to lead the Cincinnati Reds past the Milwaukee Brewers 8-2 on Saturday.

It was Cincinnati's seventh victory in nine games, and Milwaukee dropped to 2-4 since acquiring CC Sabathia in a trade with Cleveland on Monday. Sabathia makes his second start Sunday for the Brewers, who fell six games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central.

Volquez (12-3), Cincinnati's lone All-Star, lowered his NL-leading ERA to 2.29. He gave up six hits and two runs, one earned. The right-hander walked two in his fourth double-digit strikeout game this season.

Seth McClung (5-5) took the loss despite striking out a season-high seven. He gave up three hits and three runs -- all on Dunn's first-inning shot. Jerry Hairston singled, Ken Griffey Jr. walked and Dunn hit his 25th homer with two outs.

Dunn and Edwin Encarnacion then went back-to-back in the ninth inning off Eric Gagne, drawing boos from the crowd for the former Brewers closer. More boos followed as Gagne was removed from the game after giving up a two-out single to Eric Patterson and a double to Hairston. Both scored on a single by Jay Bruce off Guillermo Mota.

Dunn, with five homers in six games and eight in his last 13, moved into second in the NL in homers behind Philadelphia's Ryan Howard (28).

Milwaukee's two runs came on Prince Fielder's homer in the fourth, his 18th and only the fifth home run Volquez has given up this year. Fielder apparently didn't know it was gone, however, as he stood in the batter's box for a couple of seconds, looking up and down trying to find the ball as it headed toward the Brewers' bullpen in left.

Griffey had an RBI single in the eighth to make it 4-2.

Volquez got out of a jam in the fifth thanks to some great defense. McClung and Craig Counsell singled with one out and, following J.J. Hardy's strikeout, Ryan Braun lined a shot down the third-base line.

Encarnacion stopped it with a dive, saving a run even though he stumbled and couldn't force McClung at third. Fielder grounded out to end the threat.

The Reds are expected to place right-hander Aaron Harang on the 15-day disabled list Sunday because of a strained right forearm. The team will recall top prospect Homer Bailey from Triple-A Louisville to start against Sabathia.

Associated Press  —  7/12/2008 9:42 pm