Offense Stays Cold, Milwaukee Shuts Out Reds 2-0

For the second night in a row, the Cincinnati Reds’ offense consisted of just two hits, as they fell 2-0 to the division-leading Brewers Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park.

FinalRHEMilwaukee Brewers (48-29)250Cincinnati Reds (37-41)021W: Brandon Sproat (2-4) L: Julian Garcia (0-1)

SV: Trevor Megill (10)

Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread

Just like Monday night, it was another low-scoring affair, with Nick Lodolo and Brandon Sproat locked in a 0-0 pitcher’s duel through the first three innings. The first hit Lodolo allowed was a 107.6 mph comebacker off his wrist by Jackson Chourio in the top of the fourth. He would stay in the game despite grimacing and shaking his hand, but he had to throw 32 pitches after that play. Brice Turang singled on a play that Arroyo should have made, but didn’t. He got William Contreras to strike out, and one walk later to Andrew Vaughn, he would strand the bases loaded with a strikeout and a fly out.

Lodolo did not return in the fifth, with the reason being announced as a left wrist contusion. He finished with a pitching line of zero runs, two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts through four innings. He had a 37% strike rate on his curveball, with all three swings at that particular pitch being whiffs.

Meanwhile, Brandon Sproat, who came into tonight’s game having allowed 13 home runs in 12 starts, pitched one of the best starts of his career. He had a no-hitter through five, but Jose Trevino broke up that in the sixth with a lead-off single. Edwin Arroyo grounded into a fielder’s choice and then was caught stealing second base to extinguish any real threat. Sproat allowed just one hit over six innings and had a career high ten strikeouts. He also had a career high in whiffs with 16. His normal whiff rate is only in the 50th percentile of MLB.

With Lodolo leaving the game early, Julian Garcia got to make his major league debut tonight. He entered in the fifth and after a one-out walk, earned his first MLB strikeout against Joey Ortiz. He then struck out Jackson Chourio on a check swing to end the inning. Garcia would pitch 1.2 innings, giving up one run with two walks and three strikeouts. One of those walks was to Vaughn in the sixth, who came around to score on Jake Bauers’ two out triple down the first base line that Noelvi Marte couldn’t pick up right away along the wall.

The Brewers would add a run in the eighth after back-to-back singles by Turang and Contreras and a sacrifice fly from Vaughn. The Reds started to threaten in the bottom of the eighth when Nathaniel Lowe led off with a single, but Eugenio Suárez struck out and Noelvi Marte grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Key Moment of the Game

One run was all the Brewers would need. It was the two out walk to Vaughn that led to a Bauers triple down the first base line and scored Vaughn all the way from first base.

Notes Worth Noting

-After the game, Francona said Lodolo’s hand was already badly bruised when he was at the mound with him right after it happened. The X-rays were negative and as long as the swelling goes down quickly, he should be good to make his next start.

-In De La Cruz’s return to the lineup, he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

-Pierce Johnson made his first appearance since May 26th, getting two strikeouts in 0.2 innings.

-The Brewers have won ninth straight series at Great American Ball Park.