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Nestor Cortes bounced back from a historically bad start with six innings of one-hit ball, combining with three relievers to pace the Milwaukee Brewers to a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series.

It was third consecutive 1-0 loss for the Reds, while the Brewers have won three straight after opening with four losses.

Reds starter Nick Lodolo (1-1) retired the first nine hitters before the Brewers got on the board with an unearned run in the fourth. Jackson Chourio opened with a ground-rule double to right-center. Chourio advanced to third when William Contreras reached on an error when Lodolo dropped the toss covering first. Sal Frelick’s two-out single through the right side scored Chourio.

Cortes (1-1) struck out six and walked two in an 86-pitch outing. Elvis Peguero and Bryan Hudson each followed with a scoreless inning and Joel Payamps finished with a perfect ninth for his first save.

In his Brewers debut Saturday, Cortes became the first pitcher in major league history to allow home runs to three batters on his first three pitches in a 20-9 road loss to the Yankees. Cortes was rocked for eight runs in two innings, including five homers in that game.

After a leadoff walk to TJ Freidl, Cortes did not allow another Reds baserunner until Jose Trevino’s one-out double in the third. Trevino advanced to third on a ground out and Matt McLain walked, but Cortes fanned Elly De La Cruz to end the inning.

The Reds put two on with one out in the seventh on a single and walk off Peguero, but he escaped with a pair of fly outs to center.

Rhys Hoskins and Frelick opened the bottom half with consecutive singles and advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Hoskins was thrown out at home trying to score on a grounder to short. Scott Barlow relieved and got an inning-ending ground out.

–Field Level Media