MILWAUKEE _ It was a memorable Friday night for Chris Carter.
The slugging first baseman set a single-season career high for home runs and runs batted in, and also took part in his second triple play of the season as he helped the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Cincinnati Reds, 5-4, at Miller Park.
Carter drove in the first two runs for the Brewers with a homer and RBI single, and Ryan Braun put them ahead to stay with a two-run single in the seventh as they opened their final home series of the season in entertaining fashion.
Andrew Susac's leadoff double started Milwaukee's game-turning rally in the seventh, with pinch-hitter Josmil Pinto and Jonathan Villar following with walks to load the bases and chase Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani.
Tony Cingrani came on and threw four straight balls to walk Scooter Gennett and force in Susac to tie it at 3-3. Next up was Blake Wood, and Braun greeted him with a sharp single to center that drove in Pinto and Villar, making it 5-3.
The Reds got to closer Tyler Thornburg for a run in the ninth, with Eugenio Suarez doubling to open the frame and eventually coming in to score on a groundout. But Thornburg recovered to record his 13th save of the season.
What started out as a tough first inning for the Brewers wound up being a memorable one as they turned their second triple play of the season.
Jose Peraza opened with a single under the glove of Villar, who next booted a Scott Schebler grounder to leave two on for Joey Votto.
With the runners going, Votto lined a shot down the first-base line that Carter reached out and snagged. He then stepped on first and threw over to second to a covering Orlando Arcia to complete the triple play.
It was the eighth triple play in franchise history and first since April 29. Starter Zach Davies was also on the mound for that one at Miller Park, when Aaron Hill, Yadiel Rivera and Carter turned one 5-4-3 on a grounder off the bat of Miami's Marcell Ozuna.
Carter also got Milwaukee into the lead, as his first-pitch homer off DeSclafani to open the bottom of the second made it 1-0.
It was the 38th homer and 89th RBI of the season for Carter, both career highs. He set his previous highs in 2014 while with the Houston Astros. Carter needs two homers over his final eight games to become the sixth player in Brewers history to hit 40 in a season.
Richie Sexson (twice), Prince Fielder (twice), Gorman Thomas, Ben Oglivie and Ryan Braun are the others.
That 1-0 lead stood until the fifth, when Cincinnati opened with a pair of singles against Davies. DeSclafani bunted the runners up but it didn't matter, as Jose Peraza homered to left-center to give the Reds a 3-1 lead.
Davies finished out the fifth before being lifted. He allowed seven hits and struck out three.
The Brewers got a run back in the sixth when Braun singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout by Carter.
