Brewers bats awaken, pitching falters in 16-10 loss to Reds

MILWAUKEE (AP) The Milwaukee Brewers can finally start feeling good about themselves at the plate.

The pitching, though, needs a lot more work.

Starter Mike Fiers gave up two-out grand slams to Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier in back-to-back innings, and the Brewers wasted their best offensive performance of the year in a 16-10 loss on Tuesday night to the Cincinnati Reds.

Fiers (0-3) was shelled for eight runs in four innings for Milwaukee, which lost its seventh straight. The Brewers have the worst record in the majors at 2-12.

''For us to score 10 there and not even be close to winning, I can't really explain it,'' Fiers said. ''Things definitely haven't been going my way. I need to be better. I don't know what else to say.''

Fiers became just the 14th pitcher to allow two slams in a game, according to STATS, the first since Detroit's Daniel Schlereth against the New York Mets on June 28, 2011.

Zack Cozart hit two homers for the Reds, whose offense has reawakened for 22 runs in two games in Milwaukee after manager Bryan Price went on a profanity-laced tirade in his pregame media session Monday.

''It was one of those games that just didn't seem like it was going to end. Our offense came through,'' Frazier said.

For a change, the offense wasn't the main problem either for the Brewers, even with a lineup littered with backups because of injuries.

Elian Herrera, who was called up earlier in the day from the minors, hit a grand slam in the sixth to get the Brewers to 13-10.

The Reds had more punch. Cozart led off the top of the seventh with a solo shot.

BATS AWAKEN

The 10 runs for Milwaukee matched the offense's output for the previous six games. The Brewers also had 12 hits.

In what has been a miserable year so far, manager Ron Roenicke hopes the team can build on the production despite the loss.

''It's just a shame you score 10 runs and aren't even close to winning the game,'' Roenicke said. ''But real good job by a lot of the guys offensively. We'll just see if we can get a good outing pitching and see if we can continue the offense.''

Herrera had five RBIs and scored three times.

SLAM DUNK

It was the fourth time in major league history that two teams combined for three grand slams, and the first since the Yankees hit three slams against Oakland on Aug. 25, 2011.

Reds first base coach Billy Hatcher was involved in one of the other games, hitting a grand slam for Houston in a 22-7 loss to the Cubs on June 3, 1987. It was the last time there were three grand slams in a game in which both teams hit at least one, according to STATS.

''You have some guys who never hit one and I'm talking about some of your best hitters,'' Hatcher said. ''To see three in one game is crazy.''

KEY ERROR

Jason Rogers had two throwing errors at third for the Brewers. The first error off Brandon Phillips' bouncer in the third inning proved especially costly after the next batter, Bruce, hit his fourth career grand slam to open the scoring.

Jason Marquis (1-1) got the win despite giving up nine hits and five runs in five innings. He had eight strikeouts.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: Catcher Devin Mesoraco made his first appearance since coming off the bench on April 12 against St. Louis. Mesoraco has been dealing with a sore hip. He walked as a pinch hitter in the seventh and scored a run.

Brewers: Roenicke said C Jonathan Lucroy could miss four to six weeks with a broken left toe. He got hurt on Monday. ... Scooter Gennett went on the DL on Tuesday after the second baseman cut his hand in the shower on Sunday in Pittsburgh. Herrera was called up from Triple-A to replace him on the roster.

UP NEXT

Reds: Johnny Cueto (0-2) hopes the offensive revival continues for his start on Wednesday. The 22 runs combined over the two straight victories exceeded the team's 19-run output during a 1-7 stretch preceding the trip to Milwaukee.

Brewers: Jimmy Nelson (1-1) is as close as the struggling Brewers have to a stopper these days. Milwaukee starting pitching had an ERA of 5.96 entering Tuesday, the worst in the majors.