Fiers perfect through 6, Brewers beat Reds 3-1 - Atlanta Journal Constitution

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The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE â€" Brewers rookie Mike Fiers took a perfect game into the seventh inning and Aramis Ramirez hit a two-run homer off Johnny Cueto to lead Milwaukee over the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 on Tuesday night.

Cincinnati Reds' Brandon Phillips goes down to one knee after striking out against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Mike Fiers throws to the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto throws to the Milwaukee Brewers during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)

Fiers (6-4) retired his first 18 batters before Zack Cozart doubled to left-center leading off the seventh. He advanced to third on a fly ball and scored on Brandon Phillips' sacrifice fly.

The only other hits Fiers gave up were eighth-inning singles to Xavier Paul and Ryan Hanigan. The right-hander struck out pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick to get out of the inning and left the field to a standing ovation.

Jim Henderson pitched a scoreless ninth for his first career save. It was Milwaukee's second consecutive win over the NL Central leaders and its fifth straight victory at home.

The Reds have lost three straight for the first time since July 2-5. They remained 3½ games ahead of second-place Pittsburgh.

Fiers has been terrific since he was called up from Triple-A Nashville on May 29. He hasn't allowed more than two runs in any of his last nine starts, going 5-2 with a 1.03 ERA and racking up 61 strikeouts in 61 innings.

Cueto (14-6) pitched seven innings for the Reds, giving up three runs and six hits while striking out nine. He was trying to become the first National League pitcher to reach 15 wins this season.

The Brewers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Ramirez's 15th home run, a 425-foot shot to the Milwaukee bullpen in left-center. It was the second consecutive game in which Ramirez hit a home run against the Reds.

Jean Segura's RBI groundout in the seventh increased the lead to 3-1. It was Segura's first career RBI.

NOTES: Reds manager Dusty Baker said 1B Joey Votto would not be activated from the disabled list on the team's current seven-game road trip, which ends Sunday in Chicago. Votto had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee July 17. ... Brewers RHP Shaun Marcum, on the disabled list since June 15 with right elbow tightness, will make a rehabilitation start Thursday with Class-A Wisconsin. ... The series concludes Wednesday when the Reds send Mat Latos (10-3) to the mound against Randy Wolf (3-8).

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August 07, 2012 11:21 PM EDT

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