DaytonDailyNews.com

MILWAUKEE — Jeff Keppinger's double capped a three-run, ninth-inning rally off Milwaukee closer Salomon Torres and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Brewers 5-4 on Monday night, Sept. 8.

With the loss, the Brewers' lead in the NL wild-card race shrunk to three games over the Phillies with 18 games left. Philadelphia beat Florida 8-6. The Brewers and Phillies play a key four-game series beginning Thursday in Philadelphia.

Jared Burton (5-1) pitched a scoreless eighth for the victory. Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 28th save in 34 chances.

Torres (6-5) entered the game with Milwaukee leading 4-2, but allowed consecutive singles to Jay Bruce and Wilkin Castillo, and a walk to Chris Dickerson to load the bases with no outs.

Pinch-hitter Javier Valentin struck out, but Corey Patterson's hard liner up the middle hit Torres in the leg for an infield single, pulling the Reds to 4-3.

Keppinger then hit a shot past left fielder Ryan Braun to the base of the wall, scoring Castillo and Dickerson to give the Reds the lead for good.

The Brewers have lost six of eight.

Jason Kendall hit his second homer and J.J. Hardy hit his 23rd homer for Milwaukee. It was Kendall's first homer since July 11 and the first allowed by Volquez since July 30, a span of 38 innings.

Joey Votto hit his 19th homer for Cincinnati.

Milwaukee starter Dave Bush allowed two runs and seven hits in eight innings.

Cincinnati starter Edinson Volquez pitched 52/3 innings, giving up four runs and five hits with three walks while striking out 10.

The Reds also loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, but failed to score. Paul Bako hit a bouncer back to Bush, who threw home to Kendall for the force to start a double play. Volquez then popped out weekly to first to end the inning.

Prince Fielder's RBI groundout made it 1-0 Milwaukee in the first. Castillo's RBI single tied it in the second for the Reds.