W: Bronson Arroyo (3-2)
L: Chris Narveson (1-1)
HR: Jay Bruce (3), Ryan Braun (8)
MVP: Erick Almonte (+.028)
LVP: Chris Narveson (-.333)
Win Expectancy Graph and Star of the Game Voting
Is it time for the Reds to leave yet?
This one was done early as the Reds tagged Chris Narveson for seven earned runs in just 2.1 innings, pounding out eight hits and drawing a walk. Six of the seven batters to face Narveson in the third got hits, and all of them scored. From there the Reds coasted to their 19th victory in 22 games against the Crew.
Meanwhile, the Brewers didn't score until the fifth inning, when Jonathan Lucroy was awarded home on a Paul Janish throwing error that sailed into the Brewer dugout. The second run scored in the seventh on a Carlos Gomez sac fly, and the third scored on a Lucroy single in the eighth. Ryan Braun hit his eighth home run of the season with the Brewers down 9-3 in the 9th.
The game ended on a 5-3 groundout that caused a collision between Casey McGehee and Joey Votto. McGehee left holding his left thumb.
Other notes:
- Despite the fact that Chris Narveson recorded just seven outs tonight, the Brewers were able to save the bullpen a bit by using Brandon Kintzler for 2.2 innings and Zach Braddock for two more. Neither pitcher allowed a run. LaTroy Hawkins and Sergio Mitre also pitched single innings: Hawkins' frame was scoreless, while Mitre allowed two runs in his.
- Maybe this doesn't bother anyone else, but it's becoming a huge pet peeve of mine: Carlos Gomez did the home run bat flip three times tonight, and none of the balls left the yard. The second and third bat flips were on balls hit while the Brewers were down 7-1.
- Leading by four runs in the top of the ninth against Sergio Mitre (who could not throw strikes), the Reds stole three bases. Two runs eventually scored in the inning.