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CIN@SD: Arroyo punches out eight in three-hit shutout

Brewers manager Ron Roenicke didn't have to say anything to his players on Friday about the importance of their weekend series against the Reds, the leaders of the National League Central.

"They know," Roenicke said. "They know what's been happening, and what's going to happen."

After winning two of three against both the Pirates and Cardinals out of the All-Star break, Milwaukee dropped Friday's opener to the Reds, 3-1, to fall 8 1/2 games back in the division.

"I think the Pittsburgh series was big, the St. Louis series was big and this series is big." Roenicke said. "For me, it's not a different feel. We know where we are and what we have to do, and we know who we're playing."

On Saturday at Great American Ball Park, the Brewers will face Bronson Arroyo, who pitched 7 1/3 no-hit innings against Milwaukee on June 26 before giving up three runs in the eighth. He didn't figure in the decision in the Reds' 4-3 victory.

"Just to go out there and have a performance like that, you can never expect to throw a no-hitter," Arroyo said. "And honestly, I could care less if I throw a no-hitter. I'd rather have a win tagged by the side of my name. This game is hard enough as it is to grind out every day, year after year after year."

Arroyo also faced the Brewers on May 7, going 6 2/3 innings and allowing one run. His first start after the All-Star break was shaky, though. The veteran righty allowed five runs on eight hits in three innings of a loss to the D-backs.

"Today, for whatever reason, I didn't have good stuff," Arroyo said after the start. "I was [stuck with] 84-85 mph fastballs, and that hasn't really happened to me all year. You just hope you can dial it in next time out and have better, crisper stuff."

The Reds have won six of eight games since the break after ending the first half on a three-game winning streak.

Brewers: Greinke confirms contract extension offer
On Friday, free-agent-to-be Zack Greinke confirmed a CBS Sports report that the Brewers offered him a five-year contract extension in excess of $100 million.

He was uncomfortable revealing any more information about the offer, but indicated the report was "pretty accurate."

"That's tricky stuff," Greinke told reporters. "I don't want to get involved with telling you guys too much about it."

General manager Doug Melvin declined to comment about Greinke's status this week. He has said many times that a player in Greinke's situation -- that is, a few months away from free agency -- would rarely sign a contract extension without first finding out his value on the open market. Melvin wouldn't reveal if the Brewers had made the offer.

Greinke is set to pitch on Tuesday at Philadelphia after having his last scheduled start skipped so he could rest.

• Right-hander Yovani Gallardo will start for the Brewers on Saturday. He's been impressive in three starts this month, posting a 0.92 ERA in 19 2/3 innings. Opponents are batting .157 against Gallardo in that span.

Gallardo is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in two starts against the Reds this season. In eight starts at Great American Ball Park, he is 2-2 with a 3.51 ERA.

• Third baseman Ryan Braun singled in his first two at-bats Friday to reach 1,000 career hits. He is the 11th player in franchise history to reach the milestone. He finished the game 2-for-4.

Reds: Cozart and Bruce bust out of slumps
In the fourth inning on Friday, two Reds hitters mired in slumps showed signs of coming alive with the lumber.

Shortstop Zack Cozart, stuck in a 1-for-21 stretch, homered to left field in the fourth and had an infield single in the sixth. Outfielder Jay Bruce, who was batting .151 in July, doubled to right field in the fourth and homered in the seventh.

Before the game, manager Dusty Baker said he could tell Bruce's struggles at the plate were "killing him."

"Maybe he'll get a cheap one here or there, and that's how it usually starts," Baker said. "Then all the pressure seems to just [fall] off your shoulders."

Worth noting
• Jay Bruce is batting .435 in 23 career at-bats against Yovani Gallardo with two homers and seven RBIs.

• The Reds and Marlins are the only teams in the Majors to have only used five starting pitchers so far this season. Cincinnati's 93-game stretch of five starters is a modern franchise record.

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