The Cincinnati Reds lost their third straight game Thursday night, losing 1-0 in the first of a four-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers. It is the third game in a row that the Reds have lost by a score of 1-0.
Final
R
H
E
Cincinnati Reds (2-5)
0
2
1
Milwaukee Brewers (3-4)
1
5
1
W: Nestor Cortes (1-1) L: Nick Lodolo (1-1) S: Joel Payamps (1)
Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread
Nick Lodolo started fast, and combined with the Brewers’ aggressive approach, he had only 18 pitches through two innings. He ran into trouble in the fourth, however. The first hit he allowed came in the fourth on a leadoff ground rule double to Jackson Chourio. After striking out Yelich on back-to-back curveballs, Lodolo made a critical error, dropping the ball while covering first base. This led to the lone run of the game two batters later, when Sal Frelick’s seeing eye single scored Chourio.
Meanwhile, Nestor Cortes was also dealing. Unlike his season debut when he looked like the worst pitcher against his former team, the Yankees, Cortes looked like one of the best pitchers tonight against the Reds. He finished with six strikeouts and two walks while allowing just one hit through six innings. That one hit came off the bat of his former catcher, Jose Trevino, in the form of a 407 foot double to left center.
The Reds had chances at the plate early, starting in the first inning. TJ Friedl walked to lead off the game, but Matt McLain struck out, Elly De La Cruz flied out to the right field wall (with a 100.8 mph exit velocity) and Christian Encarnacion-Strand struck out looking. In the third inning, Trevino had the double off Cortes with one out in the third, but after a terrible bunt attempt by Friedl and a McLain walk, De La Cruz struck out looking to end the inning.
The Reds’ best chance to tie or take the lead came in the 7th inning once Cortes left the game. Jeimer Candelario had a one-out single. Terry Francona pinch hit left-handed hitter Gavin Lux against Milwaukee’s right-handed reliever and Lux drew a walk. However, the inning ended quietly, with Spencer Steer and Santiago Espinal both flying out.
Key Moment of the Game
Nick Lodolo dropped the ball while trying to get an out at first in the fourth inning. Two batters later, Sal Frelick found the right field grass to drive in Jackson Chourio from third base.
Notes Worth Noting
Lodolo tossed just 27 pitches through three innings. He threw 29 pitches in the fourth inning alone. Lodolo’s velocity was slightly down from his average, particularly with the sinker (-1.1), but that didn’t stop him from dominating. He got four whiffs on 11 swings off the curveball and three whiffs on 15 swings on the changeup.
Scott Barlow and Graham Ashcraft combined to throw 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball out of the bullpen.
The Cincinnati Reds are the first team since 1960 to lose three straight games by a score of 1-0.
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