CINCINNATI – Right-hander Bronson Arroyo lasted six innings on a muggy night and hit a bases-loaded double on Monday, sending the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-3 victory that left the Milwaukee Brewers with a next-to-nothing lead in the NL wild card race.

The Brewers seem to be losing their composure, too.

After left-hander Manny Parra (9-5) left for a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning, first baseman Prince Fielder went up to him in the dugout and exchanged words. Fielder then shoved Parra twice before teammates pulled him away.

Since they were tied with the Cubs for first place in the NL Central on July 26, the Brewers have dropped seven of nine. They got swept by the Cubs in a four-game showdown last week, and saw their lead for the wild card reduced to a half-game over idle St. Louis with their latest loss.

They’ve entered a stretch that represents a good chance for a turnaround. They play 10 consecutive games against last-place teams: Cincinnati, Washington and San Diego.

It didn’t go well in game No. 1.

Arroyo (10-8) extended his midseason surge, winning for the sixth time in his last seven starts. He also had a two-run double in the fifth inning off Parra that put the Reds ahead to stay. Jay Bruce added a two-run homer for the Reds, who won for only the second time in the last 10 games.

The stands were dotted with fans wearing Ken Griffey Jr. jerseys for the Reds’ first home game without him. The Reds traded Griffey to the White Sox last Thursday during a road trip.

The countdown board in center field that listed Griffey’s career homers was still there, but in place of a 600-series number was a “Good Luck Junior!” wish. His locker at the end of the clubhouse was empty except for plastic coat hangars. Two photos of himself and his father, former Reds outfielder Ken Sr., were still affixed to the walls on either side of the lockers.

Indians 5, Rays 2

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Cliff Lee tied the major league lead with his 15th win and the Cleveland Indians stayed unbeaten against the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays this season with a 5-2 victory on Monday night.

Lee (15-2) went seven innings, giving up two runs and eight hits. The left-hander is 9-2 in 13 road starts.

Tampa Bay’s five-game winning streak ended. The Rays began the day 2 games ahead of Boston in the AL East.

David Dellucci hit his 100th career homer for the Indians, who improved to 20-36 on the road. Cleveland is 5-0 against the Rays this season, including a four-game sweep at home July 10-13.

Rafael Perez pitched the final two innings to record his second save.

Akinori Iwamura drove in both runs for Tampa Bay, which fell to 43-17 at home.

Rays left fielder Carl Crawford (sore left hamstring) and shortstop Jason Bartlett (right index finger) were out of the starting lineup. It’s possible both might not start again Tuesday.

Kelly Shoppach put the Indians ahead 1-0 with an RBI double in the second. He made it 5-2 on a run-scoring in the eighth, and has eight RBIs over his last seven games.

Cleveland took a 2-0 lead on Asdrubal Cabrera’s third-inning solo homer.

Lee worked out of jams in the first and second innings, leaving five runners on base and holding Tampa Bay to 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position over the stretch.

After needing just seven pitches to work a perfect third, Lee allowed a two-run, two-out single to Iwamura in the fourth that tied it at 2.

Dellucci hit a two-run shot to put Cleveland back up 4-2 in the fifth.

Blue Jays 6, Athletics 1

TORONTO – Roy Halladay pitched eight strong innings and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Oakland 6-1 on Monday night, handing the Athletics their season-high seventh straight loss.

Oakland is a major league-worst 2-14 since the All-Star break, and 9-23 since June 28.

Halladay (13-8) had retired eight in a row and 16 of 18 overall when Bobby Crosby ended his shutout bid with a homer to left in the eighth. It was Crosby’s fifth of the year.

That was all Oakland could manage against the right-hander, who gave up four hits, walked one and struck out eight.

Scott Downs closed it out in the ninth as Toronto improved to 31-23 at home.

The Athletics came in having won seven straight in Toronto but never looked likely to extend that streak. Oakland right-hander Sean Gallagher allowed the first two runs by hitting batters with the bases loaded, plunking Marco Scutaro in the second and Adam Lind in the third.

A passed ball by catcher Kurt Suzuki, an RBI single by Matt Stairs and a sacrifice fly by Brad Wilkerson made it 5-0 after three.

Stairs’ single was the only RBI hit for the Blue Jays, who beat Oakland for the third straight game.

Gallagher (1-1) allowed five runs – four earned – and four hits in three innings, his shortest start of the year. He walked four and struck out four.

Oakland starters are 1-10 with a 6.86 ERA in 16 games since the All-Star break.

The Blue Jays added another run off left-hander Jerry Blevins in the eighth. David Eckstein doubled, moved to third on a single by Alex Rios and scored on Lyle Overbay’s fielder’s choice, sliding home safely when Kurt Suzuki couldn’t handle Jack Hannahan’s throw.

Returning to Toronto for the first time since he was released by the Blue Jays on Apr. 19, Oakland DH Frank Thomas was greeted by a mixture of cheers and boos each time he batted. Thomas finished 0-for-2 with a pair of walks.

Notes: Oakland 3B Eric Chavez will have season-ending surgery next week to repair fraying of the labrum in his right shoulder.

… Toronto 3B Scott Rolen sat out for the second straight day and has missed three of Toronto’s past five games because of pain in his surgically repaired right shoulder. … Toronto INF Joe Inglett (left knee) was a late scratch. Scutaro shifted from second base to third and Eckstein started at second. It was the second time this season Eckstein has played second base. He also played 14 games at second in 2001.

AP-ES-08-04-08 2100EDT