The Cincinnati Reds were able to avoid being swept in the 4-game series in Milwaukee with a win on Thursday afternoon. In what was expected to be a showdown of aces, the Reds got a strong start from their side as Chase Burns threw six innings, but the Brewers number one gave up multiple home runs – including a 3-run shot to Jose Trevino – as Cincinnati took a win to cap off the series.
In a game that was primed to be one of the best pitching matchups of the year, Cincinnati got out to an early lead. Sal Stewart got a 102.3 MPH fastball from Jacob Misiorowski on the 8th pitch of the game he he hit it out at 102.7 MPH, with it landing 402 feet away for a solo home run to put the Reds up in the top of the 1st inning.
Chase Burns was taking care of things on his end. He kept the Brewers off of the board through the first three innings as he held onto a 1-0 lead. In the 4th inning JJ Bleday got things started with a bunt to third base that was ultimately ruled an error when first baseman Jake Bauers couldn’t come up with the ball cleanly on a bang-bang play at the bag. Eugenio Suarez then blooped a single into shallow right to put runners on the corners. Cincinnati then tacked on a run with an RBI single from Noelvi Marte. With two outs Jose Trevino got a cutter middle-in and he turned on it for a 3-run home run to make it a 5-0 ballgame.
Milwaukee would get on the board in the bottom of the 5th inning when Garrett Mitchell led off with a home run. Chase Burns found himself in trouble in the next inning after Jackson Chourio picked up a 1-out single and then gave up an RBI double to Brice Turang that cut further into the Reds lead. That was all they would get as the game headed into the 7th with the road team up 5-2.
Cincinnati got that run back in the top of the 7th inning. TJ Friedl took Grant Anderson deep for a 2-out, solo home run to right-center that extended the lead to four runs for the Reds. They would add to that in the following inning and it was Friedl again making it happen. Two singles earlier in the 8th put runners on 1st and second and Friedl came through with a single that pushed another run across the plate.
The Reds bullpen took over for Chase Burns to begin the 7th inning and they took care of things the rest of the way. Sam Moll and Tejay Antone combined to keep Milwaukee off of the board in the 7th and 8th innings before Brock Burke took over in the 9th inning. He put together a 1-2-3 inning to salvage a win to end the series and road trip.
Key Moment of the Game
Jose Trevino’s 3-run home run in the 4th inning that made it 5-0. Cincinnati never looked back from there.
Notes Worth Noting
Batters 1-7 in the lineup went 6-31 and no one had multiple hits (though three guys did have a hit and a walk). Jose Trevino and TJ Friedl went 5-8 with two home runs out of the final two spots in the lineup.
The Reds went 3-11 with runners in scoring position. Milwaukee went 0-3.
Jacob Misiorowski had given up one home run since April 19th, covering 77.1 innings before the start of today’s game. The Reds hit two of them in this one off of the National League’s top pitcher.
This win was the first of the year against the Brewers. Cincinnati is now 1-5 against them and 5-20 against the National League Central division.
The Reds are back at home on Friday and they’ll have three series at Great American Ball Park with the Orioles, Phillies, and Cubs leading into the All-Star break.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Baltimore Orioles vs Cincinnati Reds
Friday July 3rd, 7:10pm ET
Trevor Rogers (5-7, 4.99 ERA) vs Brady Singer (3-7, 5.12 ERA)
