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Joey Ortiz gave the Brewers all the runs they needed with a three-run homer as Milwaukee beat the visiting Cincinnati Reds 3-1 on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of a three-game series.

The game was a scoreless pitching duel into the fifth when Brewers leadoff man Ortiz hit his first homer since May 17. Reds starter Andrew Abbott walked Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang, then left a 1-1 changeup over the plate and Ortiz blasted it 398 feet over the left-center field wall for a 3-0 Milwaukee lead. It was Ortiz’s sixth homer of the season.

Before that, Abbott had allowed just three singles and his infielders — shortstop Elly De La Cruz and second baseman Jonathan India — make a pair of magnificent plays to get outs on grounders.

Brewers right-hander Bryse Wilson, who came in as the bulk pitcher after opener Jared Koenig got the first two outs, settled in and allowed just three singles over 5 1/3 innings, striking out six.

Left-hander Bryan Hudson pitched two perfect innings in relief of Wilson, setting down the Reds in order in the seventh and eighth with two strikeouts.

Wilson (4-3) earned the win for Milwaukee. Abbott (5-6) took the loss, giving up four hits and three walks with three strikeouts.

Right-hander Trevor Megill came in to pitch the ninth and walked De La Cruz to lead off the inning. De La Cruz then stole his major league-leading 35th base and scored on Jeimer Candelario’s double to center.

Megill then got two groundouts and Stuart Fairchild flew out to end the game. Megill earned his 12th save.

The Brewers are 38-1 when leading after eight innings this season.

–Field Level Media