CINCINNATI — In what's becoming an annual occurrence, the Milwaukee Brewers are losing games — and their composure — in early August.

Bronson Arroyo (10-8) allowed one run in six innings on a muggy night and hit a bases-loaded double last night, sending the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-3 victory that left the Brewers with a next-to-nothing lead in the NL wild-card race.

Their patience is running out, too.

After 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.

"If you want to know what happened or what transpired — blow-by-blow or what words were said — I'm sorry, you're not going to know," manager Ned Yost said. "It's private."

It was reminiscent of Aug. 2 last season, when Yost got into a heated dispute with catcher Johnny Estrada in the dugout tunnel during a loss to the Mets. That came during a run of 10 losses in 14 games, a fade that dropped them out of first.

They're at it again.

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 saw their lead for the wild card reduced to a half-game over idle St. Louis with their latest loss.

Nationals 9, Rockies 4: Tim Redding (8-6) settled down to pitch five innings after allowing three runs in the first, and Willie Harris homered and had three RBIs as Washington beat host Colorado.

Astros 2, Cubs 0: Brian Moehler (7-4) allowed four hits in five innings before two powerful storms rolled into Wrigley Field, and visiting Houston withstood the wild weather to beat Chicago in a rain-shortened game that was called in the bottom of the eighth.

Diamondbacks 13, Pirates 7: Mark Reynolds homered and drove in three runs, Chris Young snapped an 0-for-18 skid with three hits and host Arizona routed Pittsburgh and moved 1 1/2 games ahead of idle Los Angeles in the NL West.

Giants 4, braves 2: Matt Cain (7-9) allowed one run on five hits in 6 2/3 innings and Randy Winn doubled in a run and had three hits as host San Francisco beat Atlanta.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Rangers 9, Yankees 5: Marlon Byrd hit a game-winning grand slam off Damaso Marte (0-1) in the ninth inning and host Texas, long after Joba Chamberlain left with a stiff right shoulder in the fifth, snapped a 10-game home losing streak to New York.

Mariners 11, Twins 6: Raul Ibanez had a grand slam and six RBIs — all in a wild, 10-run seventh inning — and host Seattle staged their biggest comeback of a lost season to stun Minnesota.

Angels 6, Orioles 5: Chone Figgins drew a bases-loaded walk from All-Star closer George Sherrill (3-5) with two outs in the ninth inning as host Los Angeles beat Baltimore.

Indians 5, Rays 2: Cliff Lee tied the major league lead with his 15th win and visiting Cleveland stayed unbeaten against AL East-leading Tampa Bay this season. Lee (15-2) went seven innings, giving up two runs and eight hits.

Royals 4, Red Sox 3: Gil Meche (10-9) struck out nine in six innings to win his fourth straight start and Alex Gordon homered to lift host Kansas City over Boston.

Blue Jays 6, Athletics 1: Roy Halladay (13-8) gave up one run on four hits and one walk, while striking out eight in eight innings as host Toronto handed Oakland its season-high seventh straight loss.

NOTES

Athletics: Oakland third baseman Eric Chavez will have surgery to repair fraying of the labrum in his right shoulder next week, ending his season after he played in just 23 games. An 11-year veteran and six-time Gold Glove award winner, Chavez batted .247 with two homers and 14 RBIs in 89 at-bats this season.

Cubs: Chicago closer Kerry Wood will come off the 15-day disabled list in the next couple of days after a long stay because of a blister on his right index finger. Sidelined since July 11, Wood couldn't get the blister to heal until recently.