Yelich’s 2nd cycle of 2018 takes Brewers for ride

Christian Yelich became the first major-leaguer in six years to hit for the cycle twice in the same season Monday night, contributing a single, double, triple, home run and four RBIs to the Milwaukee Brewers' 8-0 victory over the visiting Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series.

Left-hander Wade Miley (5-2) lowered his ERA to 2.08 with five shutout innings, helping the Brewers (86-65) temporarily move within two games of the Chicago Cubs (87-62) atop the National League Central, pending the Cubs' late game against the Diamondbacks at Arizona.

Yelich, who hit for a cycle on Aug. 29, also against the Reds, during a 6-for-6 performance, singled in the first inning, doubled in the third, hit a two-run home run in the fifth and lashed a two-run triple in the sixth, completing the cycle in just four plate appearances.

The last major-leaguer to have two cycles in the same season was Aaron Hill of the Diamondbacks in 2012.

Yelich's cycle was the third in Major League Baseball this season, with Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox recording the first on Aug. 9 against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Only three active major-leaguers have two or more career cycles, with Adrian Beltre leading the way with three. Carlos Gomez has two.

Yelich left the game for a pinch hitter in the eighth inning, finishing 4-for-4. His home run was his 31st of the season.

Domingo Santana led off the fifth inning with a pinch-hit home run, his fifth of the season, and Orlando Arcia ignited a four-run sixth with an RBI double, helping the Brewers snap a two-game losing streak.

Miley, who began the night with the third-best ERA in the NL among all pitchers with 10 or more starts, scattered five hits in five innings. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.

Josh Hader struck out all three batters he faced in the sixth inning before Brandon Woodruff worked the final three innings, allowing three hits, for his first save.

The shutout was the Brewers' 12th of the season.

Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani (7-6) was pulled after five innings, allowing four runs and seven hits. He walked two and struck out five.

Curtis Granderson scored three times and Travis Shaw collected two hits for the Brewers, who improved to 11-5 against the Reds this season.

Curt Casali had two hits for the Reds, who lost for the fourth time in their last five games.

The Brewers outhit the Reds 11-8.