Barry Larkin can't get to a single by Ron Belliard in the fifth inning. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        MILWAUKEE — This series so far has been a microcosm of the Reds' season.

        They came in to Milwaukee full of hope and on the heels of the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. Then they went out and got good pitching two nights, but their bats went dead.

        The result: two straight losses, the second coming 2-1 Tuesday night in 10 innings. The Reds are now 5¹/₂ games behind the Cards with the clock ticking fast.

        The Reds' weekend sweep of the Cubs seems fairly distant now.

        “It's frustrating,” first baseman Sean Casey said. “We can't get a sweep and then keep winning.”

        Tuesday's game, like Monday's, was there for the taking.

        “We couldn't cash in,” Reds manager Jack McKeon said. “We haven't been able to get that big hit to break the game open in this series.”

        It came down to the 10th inning. And the Reds' closer, Danny Graves, already had thrown two innings.

        Mark Wohlers (1-2) started the 10th and walked two of the three Brewers he faced. Larry Luebbers came in with one out and walked the first batter he faced.

        Geoff Jenkins, with the infield and outfield drawn in, swung through two pitches, took a ball, then took a called third strike. That brought up Richie Sexson, who had homered for the Brewers' first run. He hit a 2-1 pitch into right field to win the game.

        The Reds entered the game knowing they had to win to remain 4¹/₂ games behind the Cardinals, who had beaten the Cubs 4-2 Tuesday afternoon.

        “It's frustrating,” Barry Larkin said. “Very frustrating. That's why you play 162 games. We're not out of it. We've got to come out tomorrow and try to salvage the series.”

        The Reds wasted a gem by starter Pete Harnisch.

        The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Sexson, acquired from the Cleveland Indians just before the trading deadline, sent a Harnisch pitch deep into the left-field bleachers. The 395-foot shot was Sexson's fourth home run in 15 games as a Brewer.

        It was the first home run allowed by a Reds pitcher in 31 innings.

        The Reds couldn't hit Milwaukee starter John Snyder. But they proved they could get hit by him.

        The Reds had five base runners in the first five innings. Three of them reached as hit batsmen, giving Snyder a share of the Brewers record for most hit batsmen in a game.

        This was not a typical start for Snyder. He entered 3-6 with a 5.82 ERA. He had lost four straight decisions and had made it to only the fifth inning in four of his last five starts.

        The Reds had him on the ropes a couple of times. But they finished 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. They also hit into three rally-killing double plays.

        “When we get the pitch ing,” McKeon said, “we don't hit.”

        The Reds tied the game in the seventh. With one out, Michael Tucker drove one into the gap in right-center field. As the ball was rolling toward the 392-mark at the wall, Tucker was motoring around second.

        The Brewers had no chance at him at third, but second baseman Ron Belliard took the relay throw and fired anyway. When his throw landed in the Reds' dugout, Tucker was awarded home.

        Harnisch pitched a 1-2-3 seventh. He was coming off his third complete game of the year, but the Reds needed offense. So Alex Ochoa pinch-hit for Harnisch to lead off the eighth.

        “You've got to play for the run,” McKeon said.

        Harnisch went seven innings, allowing one run and six hits. He struck out three and did not walk a batter.

        Ochoa flied out as part of the 1-2-3 eighth.

        Graves, who relieved Harnisch, cruised through the eighth and ninth innings.

        The Brewers brought on Ray King in relief of Snyder in the ninth. It was Snyder's longest and best outing of the year. He went eight innings, allowing the unearned run on four hits. He walked one and struck out five.

        The first batter for King, a lefty, was Griffey, who lined a single off third baseman Charlie Hayes' glove.

        Dante Bichette flied out.

        That brought up Casey, who was 0-for-7 since reaching the .300 mark Sunday. Make it 0-for-8. Casey bounced into a 6-4-3 double play.

        The Reds put runners at first and second with two outs in the ninth inning.

        That gave Chris Sexton a chance to drive in the go-ahead run, but Curtis Leskanic (3-3) struck him out.

Brewers 2, Reds 1 Box, runs Griffey surprised about fuss Sexton makes 1st start for Reds Slumping Stynes gets rest

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