Pitchers' Duel Ends With A Gut Punch As Reds Score Two In Ninth, Beat Brewers 2-1

W: Aroldis Chapman (3-0)
L: John Axford (0-2)
S: Logan Ondrusek (1)

HR: Ryan Braun (10)

MVP: Zack Greinke (+.541)
LVP: John Axford (-.413)

Win Expectancy Graph and Star of the Game Voting

Counting the postseason, the Brewers had been 20-0 when Zack Greinke pitched at Miller Park as a Brewer. They're 20-1 now, but it certainly wasn't Greinke's fault.

Greinke had his best outing as a Brewer today, holding the Reds to just two hits over eight innings and striking out eleven without walking a batter. He struck out the side in his final inning in the eighth and had only thrown 104 pitches, but was due up to lead off the bottom of the eighth and the Brewers opted to pinch hit for him in an effort to break the scoreless tie.

With Greinke out of the game the Brewers turned to John Axford, who retired the first two batters without incident and had two strikes on Drew Stubbs but then allowed three consecutive hits as the Reds took the lead. Joey Votto's MLB-leading 15th double of the season was the decisive blow.

Johnny Cueto also deserves a lot of credit today. He bent but didn't break and held the Brewers scoreless for seven innings, scattering five hits and a walk while striking out five. Aramis Ramirez and Taylor Green both doubled against him, but that was the extent of the damage done. Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect eighth for the win.

The Brewers mounted a rally in the ninth on Ryan Braun's home run and a pair of two out singles for Jonathan Lucroy and Norichika Aoki followed by a George Kottaras walk, but Travis Ishikawa popped up with the bases loaded to end the game. The Brewers had eight hits today, but just the one run.

The Brewers have the day off tomorrow (their third consecutive Thursday off), then open a three game series with the Cubs Friday night.