The Milwaukee Brewers’ losing streak continues and they weren’t able to turn things around against the Cincinnati Reds in an NL Central matchup. Even though Milwaukee managed to keep things close until the ninth inning, ultimately they conceded a run to extend their losing skid to eight games.
Cincinnati scored the first run in the top of the first inning when Joey Votto scored Billy Hamilton with an RBI single. However, Milwaukee didn’t sit back and they evened things up quickly when Adam Lind – one of the few productive hitters for the Brewers so far this year – singled Elian Herrera home to make it a 1-1 game. From there until the ninth inning it was a pitching duel between Johnny Cueto and Jimmy Nelson.
Both starters went eight innings deep and both managed to disrupt the opposing lineups allowing only one earned run. Nelson only allowed three hits while striking out five and walking two and Cueto was even more dominant, fanning eight and walking two while allowing five hits.
Both managers decided to send their closers to the ninth inning and Francisco Rodriguez allowed Cincinnati’s second run. Even though he started things off striking out Skip Schumaker, he also walked Billy Hamilton who then advanced to third on a Joey Votto single. Todd Frazier popped out to record the second out but then, a wild pitch from Rodriguez allowed Hamilton to cross home plate and as it turns, that was everything the Reds would need to take home the win.
Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect inning, striking out two batters and walking none to earn his fourth save of the season.
The Reds have won the first three games of the series and Cincinnati will attempt to sweep the series at Miller Park tomorrow. Homer Bailey (0-1, 7.94 ERA) will take the ball for the Reds while Kyle Lohse (0-3, 10.34 ERA) will try to avoid the team’s ninth straight loss.