MILWAUKEE (AP) — In Anthony DeSclafani’s only other start against the Milwaukee Brewers this season, the Cincinnati Reds pitcher tossed eight scoreless innings in his best outing of the year.

On Sunday, DeSclafani held the Brewers without a run through four innings before things fell apart, with him shouldering much of the blame as the Reds wasted two Jay Bruce homers in an 8-4 loss.

With runners on first and second and no outs in the fifth, DeSclafani fielded a chopper and turned to start a possible double play. Instead, he whipped his throw into center field. Outfielder Ryan LaMarre compounded matters when his throw into the infield skipped into the Reds dugout. Two runs scored on the play.

“I think there was a little miscommunication there with who I was throwing the ball to, but it all comes back to me,” DeSclafani said. “I’m definitely not happy.”

The first nine Brewers batters reached base in the fifth and Milwaukee tallied five runs in the inning. The Brewers sent 11 men to the plate during the inning, collecting seven hits.

“Instead of two outs and a runner at third, there ends up being two runs in, a runner at third and nobody out. That completely changes the terrain (DeSclafani) was negotiating,” Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. “I’m sure your mindset is affected by that, too.”

Adam Lind drove in three runs as the Brewers ended an eight-game losing streak.

Milwaukee starter Ariel Pena (2-0) picked up the win. He surrendered two runs and four hits in five innings.

Bruce hit a leadoff homer in the second. Cincinnati extended its lead to 2-0 in the fourth on Tucker Barnhart’s run-scoring single.

An infield single by pinch-hitter Khris Davis gave the Brewers a 3-2 lead, then Lind added a two-run double.

DeSclafani gave up five runs (four earned) and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings.

Bruce and Eugenio Suarez connected for back-to-back homers to start the sixth off Milwaukee reliever Kyle Lohse.

Lind’s run-scoring single in the sixth put the Brewers up 6-4.

The Brewers added a pair of runs in the eighth.

WALK SIGN

Joey Votto drew two walks, giving him 135 on the season, tying the club record he set in 2013. He collected his 34th multiwalk game of the year, a new single-season career high. Votto has reached base in 37 consecutive games, a season high and four short of his career high.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: OF Billy Hamilton, who returned to Cincinnati on Thursday to have an MRI on his ailing right shoulder, is expected to join the team in St. Louis on Monday. … LaMarre left Sunday’s game with a strained right hamstring.

UP NEXT

Reds: John Lamb (1-3, 5.35) will get the start as Cincinnati opens a three-game series at St. Louis. The rookie notched his first career win against the Cardinals on Sept. 15, pitching five shutout innings.

Brewers: Wily Peralta (5-9, 4.41) will be on the mound as the Brewers take on the Chicago Cubs to begin their final road trip of the season. Peralta is 3-6 with a 3.52 ERA in 10 career starts against the Cubs. Peralta took the loss in a 1-0 game on May 1 in his only other start against the Cubs this season.