It's over: Reds 4, Brewers 1

Guess the day off did Edwin Encarnacion some good. He hit a two-run homer in the seventh. That was the big blow on day when the Reds offense didn't do a lot.

But it didn't have to. Aaron Harang went eight innings, allowing one run on five hits. He struck out three and walked none.

Former Brewer closer Francisco Cordero pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save as a Red. He was greeted with boos when he was took the mound.

The Reds have not lost any their three series. They are 6-4 on the year.

The Reds did most of their damage in the seventh.

Scott Hatteberg followed Encarnacion's homer with a double. Paul Bako singled Hatteberg in. Aaron Harang, fresh off a failed squeeze, punched one by third for a hit. That was it for Brewer starter Carlos Villanueva. Corey Patterson got the runners over with groundout. The Brewers intentionally walked Jeff Keppinger to get the lefty-left match with Ken Griffey Jr. and Brian Shouse. The Brewer got the double play ball they wanted.

But it was 4-1 on a day when Harang was pitching well.

Harang's turned into a groundball pitched today. He had 13 11 groundball on the day. He retired 20 of the last 22 he faced.

His only mistake was he threw too good of a 0-2 pitch to Bill Hall in the second. Hall hit for leadoff double. Corey Hart bunted him to third. Dusty Baker brought the infield in. J.J. Hardy bounced one up the middle that would have be a routine play. But it went for a single to make it 1-0. Seems a little odd to play the infield in that early.

The Reds had no hits and only one base-runner against Carlos Villanueva through three.

Encarnacion led off the fifth with a walk. Hatteberg singled. Bako doubled, scoring Encarnacion. The Reds tried to squeeze with Harang at the plate. Harang didn't get the bunt down. Hatteberg was out easily.