The Cincinnati Reds finally scored some runs on Sunday against the Brewers. And they even held a lead into 8th inning, but the bullpen and defense made some blunders that would cost them as Milwaukee pounced on the opportunities and took the lead and didn’t look back as they won 4-3 and completed a 3-game sweep.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee Brewers (52-42) | 4 | 8 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Reds (50-44) | 3 | 7 | 1 |
| W: Milner (1-0) L: Sims (3-2) SV: Williams (23) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Cincinnati picked up their first extra-base hit since prior to man landing on the moon when Matt McLain doubled with one out in the 1st inning, but he was stranded there as the offensive struggles for the team continued. In the 2nd inning the Reds got another double, this time from Joey Votto. And this time it came with a runner on base and Jonathan India came around from first after a leadoff single to score the first run for the club in over a week. Spencer Steer would strike out to follow, and on the third strike David Bell came out to argue and was tossed from the game while walking towards the plate. Will Benson would walk to put two men on for TJ Friedl, who laced one at 103 MPH off the bat, but Brice Turang somehow made a play on it to end the inning.
Milwaukee would erase the Reds lead quickly as Christian Yelich hit a solo home run in the top of the 3rd into the power stacks in center. Cincinnati wasn’t bothered by it and went back to work in the bottom of the inning. Matt McLain singled to lead off the inning and then came in to score when Jake Fraley homered halfway up the seats in right field to put the Reds up 3-1.
In the top of the 4th inning the training staff came out to check on Ben Lively, but the stay was short and he remained in the game and completed a perfect inning. When the top of the 5th inning began Lively remained in the dugout and Derek Law took over on the mound. He ran into trouble rather quickly, giving up a leadoff single and following it with a walk. After a line out, Christian Yelich lined an RBI single into center to cut the Reds lead in half and make it 3-2. Ian Gibaut came in out of the bullpen and got the job done, getting William Contreras to ground into a double play to end the inning.
Gibaut returned for the top of the 6th inning and after giving up a leadoff single he would strike out the next three batters. In the bottom of the inning the Reds would get a walk from Joey Votto and a single from Spencer Steer, but both would be stranded as the team clung to a 3-2 lead.
Fernando Cruz took over for Cincinnati in the top of the7th inning. He retired the first two batters with ease, but then walked the next two and put the tying run in scoring position. That led to a pitching change, with Lucas Sims entering the game to try and get out of the jam. And he did just that, getting William Contreras to fly out on the first pitch he saw.
The Reds offense got in their own way in the bottom of the frame. Nick Senzel pinch hit for Will Benson with a lefty on the mound and he would draw a walk. TJ Friedl bunted, but he popped it up to first base. Senzel then tried to steal second base and was thrown out. Matt McLain would single, picking up his third hit of the day in the process, but he was stranded on the bases when Jake Fraley hit the ball 10 feet for a ground out to the pitcher.
Lucas Sims took the mound to begin the 8th inning and got himself in trouble right away as he walked Willy Adames to begin the inning and he moved to third base when Jesse winker lined a single into right. Milwaukee then pinch ran for Winker. Owen Miller then came through with a sacrifice fly to tie the game up at 3-3, and on the throw home that had no chance to get the runner, Tyrone Taylor took second base.
That was the final batter that Alexis Diaz would face as Cincinnati called on Alexis Diaz to try and keep the game tied. Diaz would get a fly out to left field, but the poor decision to throw home by Friedl would come back to haunt the team as Taylor would score on a 2-out single from Andruw Monasterio that put the Brewers up 4-3.
Cincinnati’s offense went down in order in the bottom of the 8th inning. Buck Farmer took over on the mound for the Reds in the top of the 9th with the hopes of keeping it a 1-run ballgame. He would get a ground out to start the inning, but Nick Senzel took a bad route and got turned around on a fly ball to the warning track in left that he missed and was ruled an error, putting Christian Yelich on second base in the process. Farmer then followed with a walk to put two men on. He’d escape the jam with a fly out and a strike out, sending the game to the bottom of the 9th.
Needing at least one run, the Reds had the bottom of the order due up. They also had to face Devin Williams. Spencer Steer would ground out on the second pitch he saw. Tyler Stephenson grounded out on the first one that he saw. That left the game in the hands of Nick Senzel. He battled Williams, but he would ultimately strike out to end the game.
Key Moment of the Game
Owen Miller’s sacrifice fly in the 8th inning. Not only did it tie the game up, but the throw home allowed the go-ahead run to reach second base. He would later score that go-ahead run thanks to acquiring that base.
Notes Worth Noting
Ben Lively said he was just dehydrated. “We went the smart road. Just cramping a bit. I felt fine.”
— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) July 16, 2023
The Brewers now up in the division by two games over Cincinnati.
The Reds have to use six relievers in the game. That’s not a great situation since they do not have an off day until July 27th.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
San Francisco Giants vs Cincinnati Reds
Monday July 17th, 7:10pm ET
TBA vs Brandon Williamson (1-2, 5.21 ERA)
