The Milwaukee Brewers held the Cincinnati Reds to one run on one hit on Saturday night while they crushed two home runs in a 5-1 victory to even up the series at one game each as they head into the series finale on Sunday.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (56-81) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Milwaukee Brewers (74-66) |
5 | 6 | 0 |
| W: Houser (6-9) L: Anderson (0-3) |
|||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The Offense
Cincinnati got things going in the top of the 3rd inning when Jose Barrero flared a ball into right field and turned it into a double. He then stole third base and scored on a TJ Friedl sacrifice fly to cut the Brewers lead to 2-1. That hustle double from Barrero would be the only hit of the day for the Reds and it wasn’t enough.
The Pitching
Chase Anderson’s game didn’t start out the way he’d like it to. He walked Christian Yelich and then gave up a 2-run homer to Willy Adames to begin the 1st inning. From there he pitched well, not giving up another hit before exiting the game after the 4th inning with just those two runs being charged against him.
Reiver Sanmartin took over in the 5th and after recording the first two outs he proceeded to give up a double, was asked to intentionally walk Willy Adames, then walked Rowdy Tellez to load the bases before David Bell went to the bullpen once again and called on Fernando Cruz. The rookie battled Hunter Renfroe but got him to fly out on the 6th pitch of the at-bat to strand the bases loaded and keep the Brewers lead at 2-1. Cruz returned and fired a perfect 6th inning.
Ian Gibaut took over the game in the 7th and after a ground out to start the inning Tyrone Taylor lined a ball into left field and Jake Fraley’s diving attempt came up short on a ball in front of him and it went by him as Taylor raced around the bases for a triple. With the infield in Christian Yelich singled up the middle to make it 3-1. Joel Kuhnel took over for the 8th inning and gave up a 1-out double that was followed up later in the inning by a 2-run homer from Andrew McCutchen that made it 5-1. That was all the Brew Crew would get, but it was more than enough.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Milwaukee Brewers
Sunday September 11th, 2:10pm ET
Justin Dunn (1-2, 4.82 ERA) vs Brandon Woodruff (9-4, 3.41 ERA)
Not an impressive evening, 3 base runners, 2 of whom were Barrero. At least, they SO less than 10 times. But, I suspect Woodruff will be even tougher tomorrow. Doesn’t mean much at this point, but taking series from Central division teams is the highlight of this dismal season. Maybe they can surprise Woodruff tomorrow.
It was impressive for Fernando Cruz who stopped the Brewers dead in their tracks and the coaches discover a relief pitcher can really do more than one inning. Odd the only hit came from the batter with lowest batting average.
Cruz is a cool guy/story.
I’d be very happy if Cruz continues to find success. I agree @Melvin, it’s a really cool story.
I think this game was the chance to win the series because of recent performance in offense and Houser as Brewers starting pitcher had not been good lately. The suspect was Anderson could pitched acceptably. Well the latter did it but the offense was a grift… Today they should face off Woodruff so the Crew have advantage to take the series…
Dear Mr. Krall
RE: John Kuhnel
Mr. Krall, we have reviewed MLB’s rule book front and back. We can confirm you are under no obligation to keep Mr. Kuhnel on this roster. Kindly remove Mr. Kuhnel as to put an end to Mr Bell’s unnecessary use of his services on a nightly basis
Please let this service as the memo to you that Mr. Kuhnel is not very good. This should wnd any confusion or excuse of “ I didn’t get the memo”
Respectfully
All 5 Reds fans still watching this team
you may add Strickland and Warren to this letter too…
One hit is usually not enough. The highlight of the evening was UK’s win over UF.
The Brewers seem to be in the image of the 2021 Reds, a mediocre team just waiting around waiting for something to happen, or not. The spirit and drive they have exhibited in recent seasons appear to have left them.
The NL Central has three teams openly tanking to various degrees and now a fourth listlessly treading water.
I shudder to think what the division will look like 2023 with the new balanced schedule across MLB cutting interdivisional games almost in half.
Arghhh! Nailed by the autocorrection again!
I shudder to think what the division will look like 2023 with the new balanced schedule across MLB cutting INTRAdivisional games almost in half.
Your inclination to shudder might be somewhat tempered by the shift rules changes. A young and reliable infield could be a difference maker perhaps. Perhaps speed and good throws could become major difference makers again offensively and defensively.
I agree the rule changes should create a premium on the athleticism of middle infielders and may result in games that often are more exciting. But where is the guarantee teams in the NL Central are going to field teams any more like to attempt to be competitive?
By my quick count, the new schedule takes away 26 intradivisional games from each team. Upon further review, this is a 3rd of those games, not nearly half; but, this is going to impact every divisional team, including the Cardinals.
Bunch of IFs, but IF the Reds get a healthy big 3 pitching most of the year and IF we get passable production from 2 others (+Cessa and?) and IF some of these bullpen guys (+Antone) continue to step up and IF EDLC contributes mid year and perhaps CES or Steer as well, maybe we can contend in a weak division?
I think the IFs will sort themselves out in 24 but maybe not in time for 23.
Good points, Jim. Having the MLB package this year, I’ve tuned in a bit to Brewers or Cards games simply because they are the only good “familiar” teams . Yes, remove the Brewers from that list. I’ve always liked manager Craig Counsell but now the team looks just as you have noted. It’s hard to understand.
Regarding the new schedule format, I fail to see the advantage of this for competition or logistics but I guess they are figuring on sellouts across the league when Ohtani and the other A-listers come to town. Don’t know if this will happen but everyone in the Central division not named St. Louis will be losers even more often and the analytics machine will have to ramp up even more.
The Cards are going to be impacted too because they lose 26 games that were for the most part catch their breath games where it wasn’t that difficult for them to take 2 of 3.
A former Brewers beat writer (who has the contacts inside the clubhouse) said the Hader trade really wrecked the psychology of that team. I wonder if that lingers beyond the season and/or maybe helps push their GM to the Mets as has been speculated by at least Mets fans. If so, could that plus balanced schedule trigger a teardown there? Interesting times for the Brewis.