The Cincinnati Reds' Phillip Ervin slides safely into second base for a double under the tag of the Brewers' Keston Hiura during the first inning Tuesday in Milwaukee. (AP photo)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Sonny Gray and three Cincinnati relievers held down the Milwaukee Brewers, who were missing Christian Yelich because of back spasms, in the Reds’ 3-0 victory Tuesday night.

It was the major league-leading seventh shutout for the Reds as the Brewers were blanked for the first time this season.

Yelich was a late scratch from the starting lineup because of the back issue. Gray (1-4) earned his first win of the season with six shutout innings in his first appearance ever at Miller Park. Gray tied his season-high with nine strikeouts. Raisel Iglesias earned his 10th save.

The Brewers showed a lack of punch without Yelich, the 2018 National League MVP. He is batting .325 and has a major league-leading 19 home runs coming into Tuesday night. Without their star, the Brewers didn’t get a runner past second base and struck out 14 times.

Nick Senzel led off the first inning with a triple off Brewers starter Gio Gonzalez (2-1) and scored when he threw a wild pitch to Phillip Ervin. Ervin then doubled, scoring Eugenio Suarez, who had walked.