By John Fay
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Reds right fielder Jason Romano ducks out of the way as center fielder Ken Griffey Jr. catches a fly ball. The Associated Press

MILWAUKEE - The Reds blew a nine-run lead Wednesday night and lost 10-9 in 10 innings to the Milwaukee Brewers.

The slugfest ended when the Brewers executed a perfect suicide squeeze.

The Reds had led 9-0 after four innings but quit hitting, and the Brewers continued to cut into the lead.

It was the first time in 74 years the Reds had lost a game they led by nine runs.

The Brewers had never overcome a nine-run deficit in their history.

Just when you think the Reds have suffered the loss that will start the slide toward oblivion, they get up, dust themselves off and go out and win the next game.

It looked like that would happen again Wednesday night - until the Reds blew the nine-run lead.

Paul Wilson, given the 9-0 edge, could only manage six innings, allowing four runs.

The Reds blew a big lead the night after the catastrophe that was Tuesday's 9-8, five-error walk-off loss.

The Reds have had three crushing defeats: The 11-10 loss to the Chicago Cubs April 16, which ended on back-to-back home runs by Sammy Sosa and Moises Alou; the 9-5 loss to Atlanta April 21, in which the Reds blew three leads; and Tuesday's debacle.