Kinney shuts down Reds to even mark at 9-9 Former Bangor High star 3-1 in last six starts

CINCINNATI – The last time the Milwaukee Brewers had won seven straight games, they were still in the American League.

Geoff Jenkins hit a two-run homer, Bill Hall homered and drove in three runs, and Matt Kinney turned in another quality start as the Brewers beat the Cincinnati Reds 10-6 Monday night for their longest winning streak in six years.

“It was fun to have a game like this,” Hall said. “I’m swinging the bat real well. Hitting is like a disease. One guy starts, and the rest follow.”

Hall had a career-high four hits, and Wes Helms and Mark Smith also homered. It’s the longest winning streak for Milwaukee since it took nine in a row from July 25 to Aug. 1, 1997, their last season in the AL.

“We’re playing with a lot of intensity,” Milwaukee manager Ned Yost said. “We’re finding ways to win. We weren’t doing that early in the season. Everybody’s contributing.”

Former Bangor High School star Kinney (9-9) allowed four runs and six hits in seven innings, struck out seven and walked none, improving to 3-1 in his last six starts.

“Kinney’s been on a roll,” Cincinnati manager Dave Miley said. “He’s got a pretty good arm.”

Kinney retired 11 consecutive batters before Ruben Mateo led off the seventh with a double.

“When your team comes out and scores some runs, it’s time to attack,” Kinney said. “It’s nice. If you make a mistake, it doesn’t kill you.”

Brooks Kieschnick pitched a perfect eighth but gave up a two-run homer to Dernell Stenson in the ninth and was replaced by Danny Kolb, who got the final out with runners on first and second for his 12th save.

“In this ballpark, a six-run lead can evaporate quickly,” said Yost, who had hoped to rest Kolb.

Aaron Harang (3-1) lost for the first time in four starts since being acquired by the Reds from Oakland on July 30. He gave up six runs and eight hits – including at least one in four of his five innings. He struck out four and walked none.

“I felt like I was struggling to hit my spots,” Harang said. “I was leaving my fastballs up, and my slider was catching too much of the plate.”

Helms hit his 17th homer – a two-run shot – to break a 1-all tie in the fourth inning.

Milwaukee broke open the game with a three-run fifth. Scott Podsednik singled with one out, stole second and scored on Hall’s second double. Jenkins, who had 10 RBIs during the Brewers’ just completed 6-0 homestand, followed with his 25th homer to make it 6-1.

Hall, who hit his first homer and had three RBIs Sunday, added a solo home run off Brian Reith with one out in the seventh.

Cincinnati, starting a seven-game homestand, needed just two batters to take a 1-0 lead. Ryan Freel led off the first with a triple that skipped under Podsednik’s glove in center field and rolled all the way to the wall. Ray Olmedo followed with a double down the left-field line.

Milwaukee, which opened a seven-game trip, tied the game in the third on doubles by Royce Clayton and Hall.

Cincinnati pulled to 7-4 in the seventh on Juan Castro’s run-scoring single and pinch-hitter Stephen Smitherman’s first career homer – which came in his second big league at-bat. Smitherman, called up from Double-A Chattanooga when the Yankees claimed Felix Heredia off waivers earlier Monday, arrived during the game.