CINCINNATI – Ryan Freel had four hits Tuesday night, and singled to start a seventh-inning rally that swept the Cincinnati Reds to an 11-5 victory and a two-game split with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Javier Valentin completed the five-run rally with a bases-loaded single off Greg Aquino, who couldn’t preserve a 5-4 lead in the decisive inning.

Freel, who moved to third base on Tuesday so Josh Hamilton could get into the starting lineup in center field, got the rally going with a single off Carlos Villaneuva. Hamilton followed with a single off Brian Shouse (1-1), who then struck out Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr.

Aquino got into the game but couldn’t get that elusive, final out.

Brandon Phillips singled to tie it, Scott Hatteberg was walked intentionally after a wild pitch advanced the runners. A rattled Aquino then walked Alex Gonzalez on four pitches – the last of which flew to the backstop – to force in the tiebreaking run.

Valentin’s single drove in two more, and center fielder Bill Hall bobbled the ball on the play, allowing another run to score.

Griffey added his second RBI double of the game in the eighth inning, then came around on Phillips’ triple.

Left-hander Mike Stanton (1-0) pitched two hitless innings to get the win.

Manager Jerry Narron’s position switch worked out. Freel, starting at third base for the first time since July 8, scored three times. Hamilton had a pair of hits and a walk, and made a diving catch in center field in the eighth.

Despite the loss, the Brewers headed for home with a breakthrough. They completed their first winning road trip of more than three games since August 2005, going 4-3 in Florida, St. Louis and Cincinnati. Last year, Milwaukee had the NL’s second-worst road record at 27-54.

Hall had three hits for Milwaukee, and right-hander Dave Bush pitched five innings and doubled home a pair of runs to put himself in position for the victory. A bullpen that has been one of the NL’s best so far let it get away.

The one big inning helped the Reds overcome a sloppy start by right-hander Matt Belisle.

He had an embarrassing moment while intentionally walking Craig Counsell in the second inning to bring up Bush with two outs. Belisle’s first toss to Valentin sailed over the head of the standing catcher for a wild pitch.

After Belisle completed the intentional walk to Counsell, he gave up a two-run double to Bush on a hanging 1-2 pitch, putting Milwaukee up 3-2.

Although the Brewers have struggled to get clutch hits so far this season, they’ve gotten by with pitching. Their starters have gone at least five innings in each of their 13 games, the second-longest streak to open the season in club history. The 1971 team did it in the first 17 games.

Notes: The Brewers have doubled in each of their first 13 games, the third-longest streak to open a season in franchise history. The 1994 team doubled in each of the first 18 games, setting the record. … C Johnny Estrada had a run-scoring double for the Brewers. He has hit safely in the last seven games – with a total of seven hits. … Reds SS Alex Gonzalez came off the bereavement list and started. He left the team last Thursday, going to Venezuela to be will his ailing infant son. … INF Enrique Cruz, who filled in while Gonzalez was gone, was designated for assignment.

AP-ES-04-17-07 2223EDT