The Cincinnati Reds had opportunity after opportunity that they failed to come through in before finally putting things together a bit late, but with the bases loaded in the 9th they couldn’t get it done and couldn’t complete the comeback. Milwaukee held on for the win as the Brewers finished the sweep to snap the streak that lasted nearly three years where the Reds weren’t swept in a home series.
FinalRHEMilwaukee Brewers (49-29)6111Cincinnati Reds (37-42)5111W: Patrick (5-3) L: Lowder (3-5) SV: Kuhnel (6)Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread
Milwaukee would get two runners on in the top of the 1st inning but Rhett Lowder worked around both of them to keep the Brewers off of the board. Cincinnati would start out the bottom of the 2nd inning with a single and a ground-rule double to put two men in scoring position. Tyler Stephenson then drew a 1-out walk to load the bases. The Reds couldn’t get a run in as Shane Drohan shut things down with a pop up and a strikeout.
Jackson Chourio started a rally in the top of the 3rd with a single. After Lowder struck out Brice Turang he gave up back-to-back home runs to William Contreras and Jake Bauers as Milwaukee jumped out to a 3-0 lead. The Reds would get singles from Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart in the bottom of the inning but a grounder turned into an inning-ending double play as the home team failed to come through again. Two innings later they would against have two runners on base but a line out to right field stranded both and Cincinnati fell to 0-6 on the night with runners in scoring position.
Once again Cincinnati found themselves with a chance to push a runner across the plate after back-to-back walks with one out. JJ Bleday struck out, leaving it up to Blake Dunn. He came through with an opposite field double that brought in Noelvi Marte. Elly De La Cruz then hit an absolute laser, but Garrett Mitchell made a diving catch on the 110 MPH line drive to end the inning.
Sam Moll recorded the final out of the top of the 6th. He returned for the 7th and got a groundout to start the frame. But things went south from there as he gave up a triple,, issued an intentional walk, then an unintentional walk, and then a bases clearing double that made it 6-1.
The Reds would get doubles from Sal Stewart and Eugenio Suarez to get one of those runs back in the 7th, but they were looking for more. Noelvi Marte and Nathaniel Lowe both followed up with walks to load the bases, but JJ Bleday grounded out to strand all three runners.
Edwin Arroyo started off the bottom of the 8th with a single and took second on an error by Sal Frelick in right field. Elly De La Cruz walked and both guys moved up on a groundout. Sal Stewart then grounded out back up the middle, but Arroyo scored to make it 6-3. Spencer Steer then hit a 400-foot home run into the seats below the power stacks to make it a 1-run game.
After the Brewers failed to score in their half of the 9th the Reds came to the plate in the bottom half needing at least a run while facing off against Joel Kuhnel. Jose Trevino began the inning with a single and then Nathaniel Lowe walked to put the tying run in scoring position and the winning run on. Edwin Arroyo then attempted a sacrifice bunt but he bunted it right to the pitcher who fired to third to get a force out. Elly De La Cruz stepped to the plate and fell behind 0-2, but he then worked a walk to load the bases and bring Dane Myers to the plate with a chance to be the hero. Instead he grounded into a game-ending double play as Milwaukee completed the sweep.
Key Moment of the Game
Dane Myers grounding into a double play with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th.
Notes Worth Noting
The Reds were swept at home for the first time since July of 2023. They had not been swept in 44 consecutive series at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati is now 2-15 against the National League Central. They need to petition the commissioners office to join the American League.
The Reds left 16 runners on base in the game. They had 11 hits, one hit batter, and walked 11 times but over and over they failed to capitalize on those run-producing chances.
Tejay Antone threw 1.1 shutout innings in this game. That’s lowered his ERA to 2.49 in his 20 games since joining the Reds in early May after working his way back from his third Tommy John surgery. He’s only allowed one run in his last 14 appearances.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates
Friday June 26th, 6:40pm ET
Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.83 ERA) vs TBA
