Cincinnati, OH -- (Sports Network) - Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer and J.J. Hardy had a pair of hits and knocked in three, as the Milwaukee Brewers held off the Cincinnati Reds, 9-6, in the opener of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park.

Fielder, fresh off winning the Home Run Derby over the All-Star break, also drew a pair of walks and scored twice. Milwaukee got into the win column in its first game back from the break and has split its last six overall, moving within two games of St. Louis for the NL Central lead.

Braden Looper (8-4) picked up the win after tossing 5 1/3 frames. The veteran allowed seven hits, three runs and five walks, while striking out four. He also finished with a career-high three hits and knocked in a run. Trevor Hoffman registered his 21st save of the season with a scoreless ninth.

"I felt really good today, especially after the break, physically I was a little quick," said Looper. "I wasn't quite real sharp, but I felt good out there."

Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer and had four RBI for the Reds, who have dropped three straight and five of six. Joey Votto added a two-run shot in defeat.

"He looks a lot better Reds manager Dusty Baker said of Encarnacion, who was on the disabled list recently. "He had a couple of hits today, made good contact and is driving in some runs."

Homer Bailey (1-1) took the loss after getting raked for seven runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. The young righty walked four and struck out three.

Fielder's three-run homer to left in the top of the third gave the Brewers the lead. However, Votto responded for the Reds in the home half when he crushed a two-run blast well into the right-field stands to make it a 3-2 game.

Then in the top of the sixth, the Brewers broke it open with a five spot. Ryan Braun and Fielder each walked to start the frame and Mike Cameron laced a one- out RBI double off the wall in right-center. Corey Hart reached on an infield single to load the bases and signal the end of Bailey's evening.

Nick Masset then took the hill and served up a two-run single to Hardy and RBI base hits to Looper and Jason Kendall, stretching the lead to 8-2.

Encarnacion's RBI single in the home sixth drew the Reds a run closer but Hardy hit a run-scoring single up the middle in the seventh to negate the score.

Cincinnati narrowed the deficit to 9-6 in the eighth on a three-run upper deck blast by Encarnacion.

In the bottom of the ninth, Hoffman allowed a one-out single to Brandon Phillips, then retired Ramon Hernandez and Laynce Nix to end the game.

Game Notes

The Brewers swept a three-game series from Cincinnati in late May at Miller Park and have now won six of the last seven meetings...Cincinnati finished 3- for-13 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine, while the Brewers left seven men on base.