The Cincinnati Reds scored seven runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning and took an 8-1 lead. They then watched it evaporate as Milwaukee continued their magical run to tie things up by the time the top of the 4th was over. The Brewers then took a lead in the 6th and Cincinnati failed to get a single baserunner once the 3rd inning began as they dropped the series opener in heartbreaking fashion.
Final
R
H
E
Milwaukee Brewers (77-44)
10
17
0
Cincinnati Reds (64-59)
8
9
3
W: Mears (4-3) L: Barlow (6-1) SV: Megill (29)
Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread
Jacob Misorowski came off of the injured list on Friday to make the start against Cincinnati. The Reds greeted him rudely in the 1st inning. Singles by Spencer Steer and Miguel Andujar set up Gavin Lux for a 2-out RBI single into center that brought Steer in to score and put the home team up 1-0. Austin Hays followed up with a single into center of his own, but this time Steward Berroa’s throw to the plate was on target and Andujar was tagged out to end the inning.
It wasn’t long before the game was tied up. Christian Yelich took the 4th pitch of the 2nd inning and hit it into the seats in left field. In the bottom of the inning the Reds went back to work against Misorowski, but he was also working against himself. After striking out Noelvi Marte to begin the inning he hit Tyler Stephenson and then walked three straight batters to bring in the go-ahead run.
At 54 pitches and just four outs recorded on the day, the Brewers called it a day for the rookie and went to the bullpen to bring in DL Hall to face Elly De La Cruz. After getting ahead 2-1, De La Cruz lined a 2-run double into the right field corner to make it 4-1. Miguel Andujar singled on a chopper over the drawn in infield to bring in another run and with the throw going to the plate, Andujar grabbed second base. Gavin Lux then followed up with an RBI single on a shallow fly ball into center. Austin Hays then hit a soft liner into shallow right for bring in yet another run and make it 7-1. Noelvi Marte, who started the inning with a strikeout, got a chance to get in on the fun and he basically had the same soft liner into shallow right that Hays did, bringing in yet another run.
The Brewers offense wasn’t going to just roll over. They would get back-to-back singles to start the inning, but a pop up and a force out left the Reds an out away from getting out of the jam. And it was a matter of inches, or even less that made the difference for Milwaukee. Christian Yelich popped up to shallow left field and Ke’Bryan Hayes had the ball clank off of his glove as he reached out over his head and then the ball hit off of Elly De La Cruz who had dived for the ball and wound up bringing in a run and keeping the inning alive.
Andrew Vaughn then hit a 3-run home run to make it 8-5. Caleb Durbin then lined a single into left field and Austin Hays couldn’t field it cleanly and it bounced off of his glove and over his head, allowing Durbin to take second base. Bryce Turang followed with an RBI double to make it 8-6 and end the day for Nick Martinez. Brent Suter came out of the bullpen and picked up a strikeout to end the inning and keep the Reds in front.
The 4th inning began with a strikeout, but back-to-back singles followed. William Contreras then hit a grounder right to Gavin Lux who was waiting on the ball, but he couldn’t come up with it cleanly and everyone was safe – leaving the bases loaded. Christian Yelich then followed up with a grounder into left field to drive in two runs and tie the game up.
Two innings later it was Christian Yelich once again doing damage. He hit a 1-out, go-ahead solo home run into the seats in left field as the Brewers truly completed the comeback after being down seven runs. Milwaukee would play add on in the 7th inning when Brandon Lockridge doubled to the wall and TJ Friedl couldn’t play it cleanly, allowing Lockridge to take third on the play. He scored four pitches later on a wild pitch to put the road team up by two.
Trailing 10-8 and entering the bottom of the 9th, the Reds sent up the top of the order to face Trevor Megill. He set the side down in order as the Cincinnati offense failed to reach base a single time after the 2nd inning came to an end as the Brewer completed an incredible comeback to win their 13th game in a row.
Key Moment of the Game
Take your pick of about 15 of them involving timely Brewer hits, costly Reds defensive miscues, or any of the Christian Yelich daggers to the heart of the home town fans in attendance.
Notes Worth Noting
Cincinnati’s bats went silent after the 2nd inning that saw them have nine batters in a row reach safely. From that point forward they didn’t get on base once and struck out nine times as they watched the Brewers pound out 14 hits from that point forward.
Wade Miley threw 1.2 innings for Double-A Chattanooga on a rehab start and allowed a run – on a home run – and two walks to go along with two strikeouts. He threw 38 pitches with 20 strikes.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers vs Cincinnati Reds
Saturday August 16th, 6:40pm ET
Quinn Priester (11-2, 3.49 ERA) vs Zack Littell (9-8, 3.60 ERA)
