It looked as though the Reds were on their way to a routine victory when they scored four runs in the first inning. Ryan Dempster was pitching well. The bullpen was rested. And they were playing the Milwaukee Brewers, the National League's worst team.

Russell Branyan hits a homer in the first inning. (Ernest Coleman photo) | ZOOM |

        But it all got away from the Reds in a 9-4 loss to Milwaukee before a crowd of 16,213 Friday night at Cinergy Field. It was the smallest since May 8.

        Dempster couldn't hold the lead, the offense shut down and the bullpen blew up for five runs in the ninth.

        “That's frustrating,” said Aaron Boone, who had four of the Reds' 11 hits. “You've got to take advantage of that and put the game away.”

        The Reds haven't won two games in a row since Aug.4.

        Dempster started and went 7 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits. He struck out nine, a Reds' season high.

        He had the lead until giving up a two-run home run in the eighth to tie it.

Aaron Boone looks up at the umpire after being tagged out at second base by Brewers SS Jose Hernandez in the eighth inning. (Brandi Stafford photo) | ZOOM |

        Scott Sullivan (6-4) lost the game. He was charged with all five runs in the ninth; he has allowed eight runs in two innings since coming off the disabled list Sunday.

        “I feel fine,” Sullivan said. “I'm just making some very poor pitches.”

        Sullivan probably deserved better. The first two runs scored on a line drive to straight-away left field off the bat of Alex Sanchez. If Adam Dunn, who had moved to left by then, had been playing where the left fielder normally plays, it would have been a routine out. But he was guarding the line.

        “You either take (the line) away or the alley away,” Reds manager Bob Boone said.

        The loss put the Reds 8 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central. The Cards beat the Chicago Cubs 6-3 earlier Friday.

Kelly Stinnett confers with Ryan Dempster. (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        The Reds' offense got going early, beginning with Dunn's two-out walk in the first inning. Sean Casey followed with a single.

        Aaron Boone got Dunn in with a double, breaking an 0-for-17 drought for Boone.

        The end to an even longer drought got the Reds three more runs when Russell Branyan hit his 10th homer as a Red to make it 4-0.

        It was Branyan's first hit since his three-home run game Aug.4. He was 0-for-26 with 16 strikeouts since the third of the three homers.

        Dempster retired the first nine batters, extending his scoreless streak to nine innings.

        Sanchez led off the fourth with a walk. He promptly was thrown out trying to steal second on a perfect throw by Kelly Stinnett.

        It saved the Reds a run, because Mark Loretta homered for the first hit and first run for the Brewers.

Reds should benefit from deal Baseball deal has something for everyone DAUGHERTY: Free money should mean free agents Highlights of the labor deal Reds relieved to keep playing Twins saved; Expos to D.C.? Bows, barbs for Selig Deal lifts burden from Boone Brewers 9, Reds 4 Reds Box, Runs Reds Notebook: Glove earns Stinnett more time Brewers end strange day with high five Cardinals 6, Cubs 3 Astros 8, Dodgers 4 Royals 5, Mariners 1 Angels 6, Orioles 2 Athletics 4, Twins 2 Giants 7, Diamondbacks 6 Padres 2, Rockies 0

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