CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Finally healthy after a lost season, Johnny Cueto is dominating every time out.
Andres Guardado Jersey . Cueto gave up three hits over eight innings, including two solo homers, and singled home a run on Saturday night, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. The Reds have won two of the first three in the series, leaving Milwaukee with a six-game lead in the NL Central. Cueto (3-2) gave up homers by Aramis Ramirez and Mark Reynolds and an infield single by Jean Segura. He walked one and struck out 10. The right-hander has allowed only three runs in his last 38 innings. "He was unbelievable again," catcher Brayan Pena said. Cueto was on the disabled list three times last season, when he made only 11 starts. Everything is coming together for him so far in 2014. "Hes taking his game to an even different level," manager Bryan Price said. Cueto is the first Red to throw at least seven innings in each of his first seven starts in a season since Bucky Walters in 1944. Hes the first Red to throw at least eight innings in four straight starts since Jose Rijo in 1990. "Ive said before: He doesnt have the body of an Olympic athlete, but he plays like an Olympian-caliber athlete," Price said. One curiosity with Cueto: He has given up six homers, accounting for seven of the eight runs he has allowed this season. He gave up two homers in a game for the first time this season. Cueto has already thrown 55 innings. With the injuries last season, he managed only 60 2-3. "Its really important to be throwing this many innings," Cueto said, with assistant trainer Tomas Vera translating. "I thank God that Im feeling really strong. Ive been working for this." The Reds piled up the singles against Yovani Gallardo (2-1), who failed to produce a quality start for the first time this season. Cincinnati had nine singles in Gallardos six innings, including Cuetos RBI hit in the sixth inning for a 4-2 lead. "They put the ball on the ground," Gallardo said. "Theres nothing I can do after that. Its frustrating when you make a good pitch and something happens. Cueto was a fastball away and he threw the bat out and made contact." Ryan Ludwick singled home a run, and Pena drove in two more with a single in a three-run fourth inning. Todd Frazier doubled home a run as the Reds pulled away against the bullpen. The game matched two of the NLs stingiest pitchers. Cueto got the better of it, leaving his league-leading ERA at 1.31. Reds leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton was out of the lineup for the second consecutive game because of sprained knuckles on his left hand. The Brewers offence has struggled and been in flux for the past week because of slumps and injuries. It took a significant hit on Saturday when Ryan Braun went on the disabled list with a strained right oblique. Braun had missed the last six games with the injury. Hes eligible to return on May 12. Outfielder Logan Schafer, who had been disabled by a strained right hamstring injury, was activated in Brauns spot. Ramirez and Segura, the shortstop, missed time in the past week because of injuries. Ramirez, bothered by a bad elbow, was in an 0-for-28 slump that matched the longest of his career when he led off the second inning with a homer. The Reds broke a 12-inning scoreless streak by piling up singles in the fourth. They loaded the bases on hits by Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce, and Frazier was hit by a pitch. Ludwick singled home one run, and Pena drove in two more. NOTES: Alfred Simon (4-1) faces Milwaukees Kyle Lohse (4-1) in the final game of the series on Sunday. ... The Reds activated OF/INF Skip Schumaker before the game. Schumaker separated his left shoulder while diving for a ball in the outfield on March 21. OF Roger Bernadina was designated for assignment. ... Closer Aroldis Chapman pitched one inning for Class A Dayton at Lake County on Saturday, throwing 16 pitches. Hes expected to continue his rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville and could be activated within a week. Chapman was hit on the forehead by a line drive on March 19 and had surgery to insert a plate.
Alfredo Talavera Jersey .Y. - Brooklyn Nets centre Brook Lopez has a strained lower back and will miss at least a week.
Rafael Marquez Jersey .C. United have acquired midfielder Alex Caskey from the Seattle Sounders for a third-round pick in the 2016 MLS draft.BOSTON - Tuukka Rask made 21 saves and the Boston Bruins beat the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 on Thursday night for their seventh consecutive victory. Zdeno Chara and Jarome Iginla scored for Boston. The Bruins took over the top spot in the Eastern Conference with 93 points, one more than Pittsburgh. Mike Smith made 18 saves for the Coyotes, who had won two straight, The Bruins scored twice in the first period, the first coming on Charas wrist shot past Smith, who was screened by Bruins forward Chris Kelly. It was the 16th goal of the season for the Bruins captain — three short of his career high. It was still 1-0 when the Coyotes had their best early scoring chance, getting a puck that got through Rask and trickled behind him. But the goalie reached backk with his stick and swiped it off the goal line for the save.
Javier Aquino Jersey. On the ensuing breakout, the Bruins got the puck to Johnny Boychuk at the blue line and his slap shot was deflected by Iginla into the net. It was his 21st goal of the season. Lauri Korpikoski scored for Phoenix with 12 minutes left in the game to spoil Rasks shutout. Phoenix had a chance to tie with about 2 minutes to play but Rask slid to his left and deflected a shot off his skate and into the post before it rolled harmlessly away. Notes: The teams combined for five shots in the second period. ... Phoenix F Shane Doan played in 1,300th NHL game. ... The Bruins had lost four straight to Phoenix in Boston. ... The victory was coach Claude Juliens 300th on the Boston bench. ' ' '