Jose Acevedo rebounded from a shaky start. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        MILWAUKEE — It was the recipe for a blowout. The Reds entered Tuesday's game two arms short in the bullpen, and their starter, fresh up from Triple-A, was struggling. But there was hope because they were playing the Milwaukee Brewers, who have been hopeless against the Reds all year.

        The Reds rallied for four runs in the fourth inning and held on for a 4-3 victory over the Brewers before 15,546 at Miller Park.

        Jose Acevedo, Gabe White, Scott Williamson and Danny Graves combined to shut out the Brewers on two hits over the last seven innings.

        Graves, who had been beaten by home runs in his last two outings, pitched a perfect ninth for his 12th save.

        “It feels good to be back to normal,” he said. “It's funny how you can change one or two minute things and the results are different.”

Eric Young is safe at home after bowling over Corky Miller. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        The victory kept the first-place Reds (23-15) 3 1/2 games in front of the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Central. The Pirates beat Arizona 2-1 Tuesday.

        The Reds have taken all five games from the Brewers this year.

        “I don't try to explain it,” Reds manager Bob Boone said. “But when we put our "A' game out there, we're tough.”

        Acevedo, making his first start since April 16, settled down after putting the Reds in a 3-0 hole. He went five innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits. Acevedo spent three weeks at Triple-A Louisville after his last start for the Reds.

        “When they sent me down, they told me to be consistent,” said Acevedo, who improved to 4-1, making him the Reds' winningest pitcher. “I did that tonight.”

Sean Casey's error led to a Brewers run. | ZOOM |

        The Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the first. Alex Sanchez doubled and Eric Young reached on Sean Casey's error. But Sanchez broke for home when the ball got away from Casey, and second baseman Todd Walker flipped to catcher Corky Miller to easily get Sanchez.

        Jeffrey Hammonds followed with a single to right. Austin Kearns fielded it and made a strong throw home. Young hit Miller just as the ball reached Miller's mitt. The collision sent Miller tumbling, and Young was safe.

        Acevedo got into more trouble in the second. Jose Hernandez singled with one out. Paul Bako then laced one into right that just got over the wall for a home run, and the Brewers led 3-0.

        Acevedo was on the ropes, and that's exactly what the Reds didn't want. With Luis Pineda serving his one-game suspension and Scott Sullivan unavailable after taking a ball off the elbow the night before, the Reds were two short in the bullpen.

        So Acevedo was probably going to be around for a while, whether he settled down or not. He settled down.

        “I was trying to throw as hard as I could,” Acevedo said. “When you do that, your ball flattens out. After that (the second inning), I pitched.”

Ex-Red Alex Ochoa breaks his bat as he grounds out in the seventh. | ZOOM |

        Acevedo got out of the second without further damage and pitched a 1-2-3 third. Shortly thereafter, he was in line to pick up a win.

        That's because the Reds — with some help from the Brewers — put together a two-out rally in the fourth.

        Adam Dunn started it with a triple into the right-field corner, and Aaron Boone followed with a walk. Walker then hit a grounder up the middle that should have ended the inning, but the shortstop Hernandez muffed it for an error. Dunn scored to make it 3-1.

        Miller hit an RBI single, bringing up Acevedo. He got in front 3-0, but Milwaukee starter Ruben Quevedo (1-5) came back with two called strikes. Acevedo fouled a pitch off before lofting a fly ball to left that Geoff Jenkins had no chance to get. It fell for a double, Boone and Walker scored, and the Reds led 4-3.

        “I knew he was going to throw a fastball,” Acevedo said. “He didn't want to face (Barry Larkin) with the bases loaded. I'm not a good hitter. But when they throw you a fastball, you've got to hit it. It was awesome.”

        Acevedo retired eight straight batters before walking Sanchez with one out in the fifth. An out later, Acevedo hit Hammonds on the back with a pitch.That brought up Richie Sexson, who grounded out to end the inning.

        Williamson got into a sticky situation in the eighth. He walked Young, who stole second. Two outs later, Jenkins struck out on a ball that bounced four feet in front of the plate. Young went to third and Jenkins reached when the ball got through Miller.

        But with Ronnie Belliard at the plate, Williamson faked a throw to third and Jenkins broke for second. He had no chance, so Young tried to go home. The Reds caught him in a rundown and ended the inning.

Reds 4, Brewers 3 Reds box, runs DAUGHERTY: Shaw should pitch for pennies 'Right feel' returning for Larkin Reds Notebook: Sullivan gets rest Pony backs Rose for Hall Mets 3, Dodgers 0 Giants 2, Braves 0 Padres 5, Expos 4 Marlins 6, Rockies 2

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