MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eric Lauer pitched seven strong innings, Rowdy Tellez and Tyrone Taylor homered, and the Milwaukee Brewers shook out of their post-trade deadline funk with a 5-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.
NL Central-leading Milwaukee had lost three straight since dealing All-Star closer Josh Hader to San Diego on Monday.
Tellez hit a two-run shot in the first inning off Robert Dugger (0-1), and Taylor followed with a three-run blast in the third.
“We’ve played good baseball, and we know when we play good baseball, we win,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Pitched very well tonight, couple home runs with some guys on base and played solid defense.”
Lauer (8-3) worked out of trouble early, loading the bases in the first and putting two aboard in each of the next two frames. But the Reds couldn’t cash in until Kyle Farmer’s RBI single in the fifth.
“It’s way nicer pitching with a lead, pitching when you’re out in front,” Lauer said. “You have some wiggle room. You can just go out there, pound the zone and really attack guys.”
Cincinnati threatened in the ninth, putting two on with one out against Trevor Gott. The Brewers then turned to Devin Williams, who fanned Matt Reynolds and Jonathan India for his seventh save of the season and his first since taking over for Hader.
“We were putting something together in the ninth but Williams came in and did a nice job,” Cincinnati manager David Bell said. “We just have to keep going.”
NO REGRETS
Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns and principal owner Mark Attanasio stood by the decision to trade Hader.
“Cost-cutting had absolutely nothing to do with this,” Attanasio said. “Every player that was available, we had the resources to pick up…