Votto’s Go Ahead Homerun Helps Reds Win Fifth Straight.

Aug 15, 2013; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Cincinnati Reds pitcher Aroldis Chapman (right) celebrates with catcher Devin Mesoraco (left) after getting a save to help the Reds beat the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Cincinnati Reds are inching closer to first place Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central and got closer tonight as they take the first game of a four game series against the Milwaukee Brewers 2-1 on Thursday Night at Miller Park.

Tony Cingrani was on the mound for the Reds and he had the strike out pitch going tonight. In the second inning allowed a homerun to Krhis Davis of the Brewers to left that was estimated at 458 feet to give them the lead at that point.

Brewers starter Kyle Lohse was on the mound for them and was cursing along until the top of the 5th where the Reds finally got something going. Devin Mesoraco reached on a infield single and collided with the first baseman as he couldn’t hold on to the ball allowing Mesoraco to go second on the error. Zack Cozart singled to center scoring Mesoraco to tie the game at 1.

In the top of the sixth inning Joey Votto leadoff with a bomb to right center for his 18th homerun of the season to give the Reds a 2-1 lead.

Cingrani was crusing along after allowing the homerun in the second until the seventh inning. He allowed a one out single to Jonathan Lucory then walked Aramis Ramirez. Then Dusty came out to get him put in Sam LeCure, he got Davis to ground right back to LeCure as he threw to second for one out and Cozart to first to get the inning ending double play.

Cingrani’s final line 6 1/3 IP, 4H, 1ER, 1BB 9SO as he gets the win improving his season overall record to 6-2. The bullpen arms of LeCure, Parra, Broxton, and Chapman pitched three innings of scoreless baseball.

In the bottom of the ninth Aroldis Chapman came on allowed a leadoff single to Norichika Akoi he then stole second, Jean Seguria fly out to right then he got Lucory and Ramirez to strikeout to end it and get the save his 30th of the season.

With the win the Reds have won 8 of their last 9 games and now a season high 17 games over .500 (69-52), now trail the Pirates by 2.5 games in the NL Central. Tomorrow nights pitching will be Mike Leake for the Reds and Tom Grozolemny for the Brewers. First pitch is at 8:10pm