Reds 5, Brewers 3: Brandon Phillips capped a four-run rally with a two-run shot and Jay Bruce went 3-for-4 as Cincinnati took the rubber match of a three-game home set and eliminated Milwaukee from playoff contention.

Phillips recorded two hits, two runs and two RBIs while Bruce and rookie Yorman Rodriguez each drove in a run for the Reds, who improved to 12-4-1 in their last 17 series against National League Central rivals. David Holmberg (2-2) baffled the Brewers for the second time in three starts, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings after holding them to one run in six frames on Sept. 13 to secure his first big-league victory.

Rickie Weeks homered among his two hits for Milwaukee, which fell to 8-15 in September and missed the postseason for the third straight season despite holding at least a share of first place in the NL Central from April 4-Aug. 31. Yovani Gallardo (8-11) dropped to 0-5 with a 4.30 ERA over his final seven starts – surrendering five runs (three earned) on 10 hits in five frames.

Weeks staked the Brewers to an early lead in the second inning by sending a 2-2 fastball over the wall in center before Bruce grounded past second in the third to bring home Phillips. Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy each reached base to begin the fourth and moved into scoring position following a wild pitch, but Milwaukee could only manage a sacrifice fly from Khris Davis after Braun was thrown out at home on Aramis Ramirez’s groundout.

Bruce doubled to put runners on second and third with one out in the fifth and Cincinnati tied it 2-2 on Weeks’ fielding error before Rodriguez put the Reds in front one pitch later with a single to right. Jason Bourgeois opened the sixth with a single and Phillips hammered a 0-1 fastball to chase Gallardo while Aroldis Chapman cruised through a flawless ninth for his 35th save.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cincinnati won the season series 10-9 and has not lost one to Milwaukee since 2006. … Milwaukee fell to 14-60 when scoring three runs or fewer. … Phillips batted leadoff for the first time since 2012 in place of CF Billy Hamilton, who suffered what the team called a “mild concussion” in Wednesday’s 5-0 loss while robbing Braun of a home run.