Andruw Monasterio's first career homer leads Brewers over Reds

Andruw Monasterio belted his first career homer in support of seven strong innings from Adrian Houser as the visiting Milwaukee Brewers claimed their third straight from the Cincinnati Reds, 5-1, Sunday afternoon.

A sinker specialist, Houser (2-1) opened the game by retiring the first seven batters and generated six groundouts over the first three innings.

Houser, 2-3 with a 6.14 ERA in eight previous starts at Great American Ball Park, held the Reds to one run and six hits over his seven innings.

Jake Fraley broke up the shutout with a solo homer off Houser to left-center to lead off the seventh. It was Fraley's second homer in as many games and his seventh of the season, one behind rookie Spencer Steer for the Cincinnati team lead.

The Reds have followed up a five-game winning streak with four straight losses.

The Brewers used the long ball to account for their first four runs. Monasterio clubbed a 400-foot homer to straightaway center, just over the reach of center fielder Will Benson and onto the grass berm for a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Ben Lively (3-3) walked Owen Miller before striking out Rowdy Tellez for the second out. But after a walk to Jon Singleton, Monasterio belted his first career home run.

Monasterio was forced from the game when he collided with Cincinnati's Will Benson in the third inning, as Benson slid head-first back into second base to avoid a pick-off. Monasterio suffered a cut on the bridge of his nose and was examined for a possible concussion.

He was replaced by Mike Brosseau in the batting order in the fourth while Owen Miller moved from third to second base to take over for Monasterio.

The Brewers made it 4-0 when Victor Caratini crushed a Lively fastball an estimated 429 feet to the seats in right for his third homer to open the fifth. Miller added an RBI single later in the inning for the 5-0 lead.

Lively went seven innings for the first time since September 2017 with the Phillies, allowing a season-high five runs on six hits.

Rookie T.J. Hopkins, a day after his big league debut, made his first Major League start in left field for Cincinnati.