Brewers 6, Reds 5: Offense wakes up from its Wrigley slumber

CINCINNATI - The Milwaukee Brewers offense has finally emerged from the deep freeze.

Manny Piña and Lorenzo Cain each homered, and Domingo Santana delivered a game-turning, two-out, two-run double to center off former teammate Jared Hughes in the seventh inning as the Brewers beat the Cincinnati Reds, 6-5, Monday night at Great American Ball Park.

It was exactly the type of performance the Brewers needed after being swept by the Chicago Cubs in the teams' four-game series over the weekend at Wrigley Field. Milwaukee was shut out three times and scored just two runs in the other game after arriving in Chicago on an eight-game winning streak.

Piña's homer with one out in the fourth gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead and snapped their streak of 23 consecutive scoreless innings.

BOX SCORE: Brewers 6, Reds 5

ANALYSIS:An 'absolutely incredible' performance on the mound by Josh Hader

RELATED:Twitter reacts to Josh Hader's explosive performance

NOTES:Closer Corey Knebel moves closer to return

MLB:Live scoreboard, box scores, standings, statistics

The Reds scored twice in the bottom half against Jhoulys Chacín, who did a good job to limit the damage to that after the first four batters of the inning reached safely.

Cain's two-run homer in the fifth put the Brewers back in front. But again Cincinnati answered in the bottom half of the frame, this time scoring three times against Chacín, Dan Jennings and Jacob Barnes.

The Reds took that lead into the seventh, when the Brewers finally broke through with three runs. The first scored in the wake of a double steal, with Christian Yelich coming home on a Tucker Barnhart throw that sailed into left field.

After Travis Shaw drew a walk, Hughes was brought on to face Santana, who entered the day with just two extra-base hits – both doubles – and a slugging percentage of just .258.

He lined a double over the head of Billy Hamilton in center to drive in both runners and make it 6-5.

Brandon Woodruff and Josh Hader combined to keep the Reds off the board the rest of the way, with Hader striking out a career-high eight in just 2 2/3 innings to close the game out and record his fourth save.

FIVE TAKEAWAYS

TURN THE PAGE: After a historically bad offensive series (at least franchise-wise) at Wrigley Field, the Brewers were hoping to return to their winning ways against the Reds in their offense-friendly ballpark and in much better conditions.

"Look, whenever you have some struggles – and we had some offensive struggles there – just changing what your eyes can see, changing the venue can do a lot for you," manager Craig Counsell said. "We've got different weather, a different ballpark, a different team."

RIGHT AT HOME: Ryan Braun came into Monday's game with 25 home runs at Great American Ball Park, most all-time for any opposing player. Lance Berkman ranks second with 23 and Albert Pujols third with 20. The 25 homers are also the most for Braun at any ballpark other than Miller Park. He was also a .298 hitter with a .946 OPS in 82 career games at Great American Ball Park. Braun made his third start in the  five games at first base.

BEEN A WHILE: For the first time since opening day, the Brewers' starting lineup featured Cain in center, Christian Yelich in left, Braun at first base, Travis Shaw at third base, Domingo Santana in right, Piña at catcher, Jonathan Villar at second base and Orlando Arcia at shortstop. The only difference was Chacín was on the mound instead of Chase Anderson. Counsell has used 28 lineups  through 30 games.

STAY HOT: Joey Votto came into the game having just been named the National League's player of the week after hitting .360 while posting a .543 on-base percentage and .880 OPS. Votto homered in four straight games and has now reached base in 15 straight games after drawing a walk in his first plate appearance Monday. He was a typical thorn in the Brewers' side, being hit by a pitch his second time up and drawing another walk the third, and scoring a pair of runs.

FLASHING THE LEATHER: Yelich is most well-known for his prowess at the plate. But he ended the sixth inning with a terrific leaping catch at the wall in left field to rob Jesse Winker of extra bases. Yelich won a Gold Glove in his first full season in the major leagues as a leftfielder while with the Miami Marlins in 2014.

RECORD

This year: 17-13

Last year: 15-15

COMING UP

Tuesday: Brewers at Reds, 6:10 p.m. Milwaukee RHP Chase Anderson (2-2, 2.86) vs. Cincinnati RHP Homer Bailey (0-3, 4.19). TV: FS Wisconsin. Radio: AM-620.