Ryan Hanigan Powers the Cincinnati Reds' Three-Game Sweep of the Brewers

If the Milwaukee Brewers are the chief contenders for the Reds’ NL Central crown, all looks good in the Queen City. The Reds just swept the Brew Crew at Great American Ballpark with a 12-3 pasting that was powered by 19 hits.

Catcher Ryan Hanigan led the way with a 4-for-4 outing with two home runs, three runs and four RBI. Brandon Phillips added three hits, including a two-run homer.

Jonny Gomes added a solo homer as well, putting the Reds on the scoreboard in the home half of the first inning. Gomes also singled and walked for the league-leading fifth time this season.

Starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo gave the Reds their second quality start of the season, going seven innings while allowing six hits and three earned runs.

Southpaw Travis Wood pitched seven innings of four-hit, one-run ball as the Reds beat the Brewers, 4-2, on Saturday night.

Arroyo was relieved by Nick Masset, who pitched a scoreless one-hit eighth inning as he struck out the side. Aroldis Chapman finished the game for the Reds with a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout.

The catching tandem of Hanigan and Ramon Hernandez are a collective 9-for-12 with three home runs and seven RBI.

Center fielder Drew Stubbs leads the club with five hits. He is batting .455 with one home run and three RBI.

Paul Janish and Jay Bruce are the only two starters who did not homer in this series.

Brewers second baseman Rickie Weeks led the game off with a home run for the second time this season. Other than the rough greeting the Brewers gave Opening Day starter Edinson Volquez, the Reds starters have done a splendid job.

The Reds currently hold a one-game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates, who took two out of three from the Chicago Cubs over the weekend.

Monday is an off day for the Reds. They will start a three-game series at home with the Houston Astros on Tuesday, with Mike Leake getting his first start. They will leave after the game Thursday for a weekend series at Arizona.