Cincinnati starter Micah Owings wasn't great, but he was effective enough in six innings, allowing four earned runs. He also drove in a run with a triple and scored on a wild pitch.

TURNING POINT

After the Brewers scored three times in the top of the fourth inning to tie the game, Braden Looper allowed two runs on three hits in the bottom half and the Brewers never recovered.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE

* Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips and first baseman Joey Votto were scratched from the lineup an hour before game time because both had the flu.

CLUBHOUSE CONFIDENTIAL

Despite all the winning the Brewers have done recently, base running has still been a work in progress. Manager Ken Macha said the team is still running into too many outs and costing itself runs. It was also a bugaboo during spring training, and Macha got on his team then for poor fundamentals. "We're just running into too many outs on the bases," Macha said. "And that is all being addressed with our guys."

STATITUDE

* Wednesday's victory was the 10th time in Brewers history the team scored 15 runs or more and had at least 20 hits. The last time it happened was in 1999 against the Chicago Cubs.

RECORD

THIS YEAR: 16-13

ON PACE FOR: 89-73

LAST YEAR: 16-13

HOME: 7-6 (1-0 roof open; 6-6 roof closed)

ROAD: 9-7

ON DECK

TEAMS: Brewers vs. Cubs (16-12).

WHEN: 7:05 p.m. Friday.

WHERE: Miller Park.

BROADCASTS: TV - FS Wisconsin. Radio - AM-620.

PROBABLE PITCHERS: Milwaukee RHP Dave Bush (1-0, 4.36 ERA) vs. Chicago RHP Randy Wells (0-0, 0.00). Bush allowed three solo homers in his last outing vs. Arizona, but the team got the victory with Bush pitching seven innings and allowing just those three runs. The Brewers are 3-3 in his starts, and he is the victim of two blown saves. Wells will be added to the Cubs' roster before Friday's game when he is called up from the minors.

Anthony Witrado

IN THE MINORS

NASHVILLE (AAA): The Sounds beat Iowa, 4-2, behind solo home runs by Mat Gamel and Joe Koshansky.

BREVARD COUNTY (A): Lee Haydel drove in the Manatees' only run in their 2-1 loss to Lakeland.

WISCONSIN (A): Despite outslugging Burlington, three homers to two, the Timber Rattlers lost, 12-8.

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