CINCINNATI -- Rookie right-hander Jason Alexander answered for the Brewers when opportunity knocked. Now outfielders Tyrone Taylor and Jonathan Davis are getting a chance to do the same.

Lorenzo Cain’s removal from the roster on Saturday left Taylor and Davis positioned to split center field duties for the foreseeable future, and both chipped in at the plate and in the field to back Alexander’s latest effective outing in a 7-3 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Powered by home runs from Willy Adames and Hunter Renfroe for the second straight day, the Brewers have won two in a row for the first time in what has been a tough month of June.

“Lo, he was a rock in the game for many people,” said Davis, who made an early-morning drive from Memphis to Cincinnati to be ready for an afternoon start in center field. “He contributed to this game in many different ways and I’m thankful to come up behind him and set that example like he did, hopefully.

“Kudos to him on reaching 10 years. That’s an accomplishment a lot of players don’t get, so I’m glad to see him go out like that.”

Taylor started in left field on Saturday with Christian Yelich serving as the designated hitter, and Davis drew a start in center in his Brewers debut. Davis, who has logged big league time over each of the past four seasons with the Blue Jays and Yankees, matched his career high by reaching safely three times. Taylor also singled and scored as the Brewers built a lead as wide as 6-1 in the middle innings.

Davis earned the callup with a solid start to his season at Triple-A Nashville, where he slashed .297/.408/.426 and stole 11 bases in 38 games.

“I think Tyrone is going to get the majority of time in center field, but [Davis] has some of the same skills as Lorenzo does,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It’s good defense, good baserunner.”

Davis singled twice, walked and made a nice running catch on Mike Moustakas’ deep sacrifice fly in the sixth as Cincinnati got as close as 6-3 against Alexander, who has a 2.42 ERA through his first four Major League starts and came away with his first career win.

He scattered eight hits over 5 2/3 innings but had help in the third from Taylor, who made a diving catch of Brandon Drury’s fly ball to save a run. The umpires initially called a trap, but the Brewers challenged and won.

“He’s doing great man, I just hope he keeps it up,” Taylor said. “He’s got that nasty power sinker and guys just beat that thing into the ground. It’s fun to watch him go after guys. It’s fun to play defense behind him.”

“He's been a great stabilizer with a lot of the injuries,” Counsell said. “You lose two starters, so for a guy to step in and just be a stabilizer like he's been and just deliver good start after good start is a big deal.”

With Freddy Peralta already placed on the injured list late last month, Alexander was called up to pitch in place of Brandon Woodruff after Woodruff injured an ankle. Woodruff made a rehab start for Nashville on Saturday night and is close to a return, the Brewers hope.

Now it’s up to Taylor and Davis to similarly fill a spot following the departure of Cain. His locker was still populated with jerseys and shoes and other gear at the end of the day, with an 8-by-10-inch headshot having replaced the real thing.

“He was one of my favorite people in the clubhouse and I’m just happy to have gotten a chance to play with him and I’m thankful to learn from him about the way he goes about the game,” Taylor said. “I learned some cool things from him. One of the main things I learned is how to separate outside life and baseball. He’s a big family guy, and knowing that there’s more important things than baseball. It’s been an honor to play next to him and with him and I’m just thankful for the opportunity I had.”

Cain was always in Taylor’s corner, including when Counsell approached Cain about a reduced role last month. Taylor called that support “huge.”

“That’s just the person Lo is,” Taylor said. “He knows the game is hard. He showed up and was Lo Cain every single day. You can’t ask for anything more as a teammate.”

He added, “Wherever they put me, I’m thankful to be out there and I’m excited to be playing baseball. Whatever they do with me, I’m ready to go.”