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CINCINNATI -- Jonathan Lucroy missed the two-strike pitch but got the call. His next swing produced a home run that sparked a big inning.Lucroys two-run homer started Milwaukees five-run third inning, and the Brewers rolled to a 9-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night with their best offensive showing in nearly two months.The bottom two teams in the NL Central have split the first two games of their series.Lucroy connected off left-hander John Lamb (1-7) in the third as he continued taking advantage of the last-place Reds. The All-Star catcher is 14 for 31 (.452) against Cincinnati this season, with five of his 12 homers and 15 RBI.First, there was some controversy. Lucroy swung at a two-strike pitch that landed in the dirt, but plate umpire Quinn Wolcott heard a sound and called a foul tip, extending the at-bat. Replays indicated that Lucroy missed the ball, but the tip of his bat hit the plate, causing the sound. Lucroy initially thought his bat hit the ball but later realized hed hit only the plate.Reds manager Bryan Price immediately came out to argue but got nowhere.It was an honest mistake, Lucroy said. I dont blame (Price). I dont blame him at all. I really thought Id foul-tipped it. He (Wolcott) did, too. Thats one of those crazy things that happen during a game.When Price went out to change pitchers later during the long inning, he got into it again with the umpire, who gave him his third ejection of the season.There was more into it than that, and well leave it at that, Price said. Quinn does a great job. I have no problems with effort. We had a difference of opinion and it got out of hand.Lamb and reliever Keyvius Sampson needed 53 pitches to get through the inning as the Brewers sent 11 batters to the plate and piled up five hits, three walks and five runs for a 9-0 lead. Jimmy Nelson (6-7) faked a bunt and slapped a two-run single during the spurt.Thats something hes comfortable doing, his best offensive weapon, manager Craig Counsell said.The Brewers hadnt scored nine runs in a game since May 27, when they beat the Reds 9-5. Cincinnatis starting pitcher that game: Lamb.Hernan Perez also hit a two-run homer off Lamb, who gave up nine runs and nine hits. He left after the first five Brewers reached in the third inning. The left-hander has lost his last three starts, giving up 20 runs in 11 1/3 innings.Nelson gave up six hits and a pair of walks in seven shutout innings, emerging from his slump. He had been 0-4 with a 5.14 ERA in his last seven starts. Joey Votto had four of Cincinnatis nine hits.It felt good to be back to where I was early on, said Nelson, who has been working on pushing off harder with his legs during his delivery. My pitches seemed to have better life on them.Jonathan Villar had three of the Brewers 12 hits. Each of the top seven batters in the order scored.BREWERS MOVEMilwaukee optioned INF Yadiel Rivera to Triple-A after the game, opening a roster spot for RHP Zach Davies to be called up and start on Sunday.STATSThe eight-run margin of victory matched the Brewers biggest on the road this season. They won 10-2 at Miami on May 10. ... It was Vottos first four-hit game since April 15, 2014, against Pittsburgh. Hes had a career-high four hits 17 times.GIVEAWAYThe Reds gave away Zack Cozart bobbleheads. The shortstop went 0 for 3 but made a diving catch.TRAINERS ROOMBrewers: Perez fouled a ball off his left foot and came out of the game an inning later. He was sent for precautionary X-rays.Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips was out of the lineup with a strained right calf, injured during a swing in Friday nights game.UP NEXTBrewers: Davies (6-4) has gone 6-1 with a 3.24 ERA in his last 12 starts. Hes made seven quality starts.Reds: Dan Straily (4-6) is 0-4 in his last five starts, giving up 23 earned runs in 27 innings.---Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay Cheap Rangers Jerseys . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season. Rangers Jerseys China .com) - The Chicago Blackhawks aim for their third three-game winning streak of the season when they host the struggling Edmonton Oilers in Sundays battle at the United Center. http://www.custommlbrangersjersey.com/ .B. -- The Baie-Comeau Drakkar took over sole possession of first place atop the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League on Thursday with their sixth straight win. Custom Rangers Jerseys . The Lightning are 2-0 so far on a four-game road trip, giving the club five straight wins as the guest and improving Tampas away record this season to 11-8-2. Custom Ivan Rodriguez Jersey . John Tavares, Thomas Vanek and Kyle Okposo were also being counted on to slow down sizzling Rangers forward Rick Nash. That plan didnt go so well early. NEW ORLEANS -- Anthony Davis doesnt accept the premise that the New Orleans Pelicans will struggle again this season simply because they let two of their best shooters walk this offseason and didnt make a splash in free-agency.For now, Davis has faith that the acquisitions of hard-nosed, two-way players including Solomon Hill, ETwaun Moore and Terrence Jones will make up for the departures of more offensive-minded players like Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson.Its not about having the most talent, Davis said. Its about what (players) can bring to the table to help our team, and all these guys bring something to the table.Davis said he sees the Pelicans aspiring to be kind of like Boston last year, not having a lot of talent but guys play hard.Thats how they were able to win games, Davis added. Thats what we bought into and thats what were looking forward to.Beset by injuries to virtually all top players, the Pelicans went 30-52 last season, which was Alvin Gentrys first as head coach in New Orleans after winning a championship as a Golden State assistant the year before that.Gentry imported the Warriors up-tempo style to New Orleans, hoping it would suit Davis, whose speed and shooting range are exceptional for a 6-foot-11 front-court player. The Pelicans saw possessions per game rise by a league-leading 5.2 over the previous season, to nearly 99 possessions per game, but defensive deficiencies caused their up-tempo approach to backfire.So this offseason, We tried to make sure we were getting two-way players, Gentry said. We also signed guys that play with a lot of grit and added toughness to our team that maybe we were missing last year.---Some other things to watch as the Pelicans try to return to playoff contention:SIDELINED REGULARS: New Orleans will start the season without three prominent players: guard Jrue Holiday, guard Tyreke Evans and small forward Quincy Pondexter. Holiday is on indefinite leave to care for his wife, Lauren, a retired soccer star who was diagnosed with a brain tumor while pregnant. Treatment for the tumor could not start until after the birth of their daughter in late September. We told Jrue, forget about the basketball part of iit.dddddddddddd This is where you take care of your family, Gentry said. Were going to welcome him back whenever he feels its time. Evans and Pondexter are coming off knee surgeries. Pondexter missed all of last season and Evans most of it. Both hope to return by December.ROOKIE RANGE: The Pelicans know first-round draft choice Buddy Hield, their first round draft choice, can shoot. Hield, a unanimous AP All-American when he averaged 25.4 points for Oklahoma last season, routinely scored in double digits this preseason. But there are other aspects of NBA basketball the sixth overall pick is still learning, particularly on defense, so the Pelicans intend to have him come off the bench to open the regular season. Moore is slated to start at shooting guard for now.DAVIS IN THE MIDDLE: Gentry said Davis, who has filled out substantially during his first four pro seasons, now has the strength and skill set to routinely play at center when opponents dont have physically dominant big man on the floor. It gives us a huge advantage when were not playing overpowering centers, Gentry said. When Davis is at forward, the Pelicans top centers will again be 7-footers Omer Asik and Alexis Ajinca.HILLS MISSION: When Hill played for Indiana, he routinely guarded opponents most dynamic scorers. He said hell embrace such a role with the Pelicans while helping instill a more defensive-minded mentality across the roster. We all love the style that coach Gentry wants to implement, but everythings going to be on defense, Hill said. We cant get out and run if we cant stop anybody. Whats the point of having points in the 100s if you only have 100 and the other team has 120?TOGETHER AGAIN: Davis and Jones are teammates for the first time since winning the 2012 NCAA national title with Kentucky (in New Orleans). I always loved Terrences game. He can score. He pays hard. He defends. He rebounds. And of course we all know hes got a winning mentality, right? Davis said. Its good to have one of your guys that you went to war with come back and play with you. ' ' '