Recap: Milwaukee vs. Cincinnati

Milwaukee, WI (Sports Network) - Jay Bruce smacked a three-run homer, part of a five-run fourth inning that helped propel the Cincinnati Reds past the Milwaukee Brewers, 6-1, in the opener of a three-game series Monday.

Zack Cozart also hit a solo shot in the inning for the Reds, who have won four of five. Bronson Arroyo (2-1) picked up the win by scattering six hits and one run with nine strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.

"Getting a big lead early gave Bronson some room to breathe," Bruce said.

Ryan Braun homered for the Brewers, who saw Marco Estrada (0-2) surrender five runs on eight hits with five strikeouts over seven frames as they dropped their third in a row.

"[Estrada] started missing his location [in the fourth inning]," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. "He gave up five, six hits that one inning and two, three the rest of the game. He threw a great game except for that inning."

Trailing 1-0, Cozart tied the game when he opened the fourth by lifting Estrada's first offering over the left-center field wall.

Drew Stubbs and Joey Votto followed with back-to-back doubles to give Cincinatti the lead, and Brandon Phillips singled to put runners on the corners.

Bruce then stepped to the plate, taking a ball in the dirt before crushing a 77 mile-per-hour changeup to right-center. The blast traveled an estimated 463 feet.

"That's as good as I can hit a ball," Bruce commented.

Braun had put Milwaukee in front with his own long shot in the home first, a solo homer he launched to dead center field.

A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases in the fourth, but Arroyo got Cesar Izturis to line out to end the inning.

Miguel Cairo pushed the Reds' margin to 6-1 in the ninth with a ground-rule double that plated Chris Heisey, who had singled and stole second.