Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras (24) runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)

CINCINNATI (AP) — William Contreras and Jake Bauers hit back-to-back homers in the third inning and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 on Wednesday night to complete a three-game sweep.

Milwaukee improved to a season-high 20 games over .500 at 49-29. The Brewers have won 18 of the last 21 series against the Reds.

Cincinnati (37-42) was swept at home for the first time since Aug. 16-18, 2024 against the Royals, a streak of 44 consecutive series.

The Reds loaded the bases with one out in the ninth against Joel Kuhnel, who got Dane Myers to ground into an ending 6-4-3 double play.

It was Kuhnel’s third save of the season. Chad Patrick (5-3) got the win.

Brewers left-hander Shane Drohan pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings with three walks and five strikeouts on a career-high 98 pitches.

Contreras’ two-run home run off Rhett Lowder — a line drive that eluded the glove of leaping Dane Myers in center — put the Brewers ahead 2-0.

Bauers followed with his team-leading 14th homer. It was the first time this season the Brewers hit back-to-back homers.

Lowder (3-5) allowed three earned runs on eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts on a season-high 100 pitches.

Blake Dunn’s RBI double in the sixth cut the Brewers’ lead to 3-1. With runners on second and third, Garrett Mitchell made a diving catch on Elly De La Cruz’s sinking liner in center to end the inning.

Milwaukee extended its lead to 6-1 in the seventh on pinch-hitter Andrew Vaughn’s bases-loaded double off Sam Moll which drove in three runs.

Eugenio Suárez had an RBI double in the seventh and Spencer Steer hit a two-run home run, his 13th, in the eighth off Craig Yoho to make it -5.

Up next

Brewers RHP Jacob Misiorowski (8-3, 1.45) was scheduled to start at home Friday against the Chicago Cubs. Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.83) was set to start Friday at Pittsburgh.