Win: Marco Estrada (6-4)
Loss: Greg Reynolds (0-2)
Save: Jim Henderson (21)
HR: Gindl (3), Votto (20)
MVP: Marco Estrada (.393 WPA)
LVP: Aramis Ramirez (-.096 WPA)
Fangraphs Win Expectancy Graph
Boxscore
Shin-Soo Choo led off the bottom half of the first inning with a single. The Reds wouldn't pick up another hit until the eighth inning, when Marco Estrada was already out of the game.
That's how good Estrada was today. His changeup was as good as it's ever been, and Cincinnati had absolutely no answer on defense when he was in the game. Estrada allowed just the one hit along with two walks over seven frames and struck out a season-high nine batters. On a normal day, Estrada probably could have pitched longer but he is still fairly fresh off the DL and during a hot day it didn't pay to have him throw more than the 100 pitches he did. Keeping in mind that Estrada has had a lot of problems with home runs and he was pitching at Great American Ballpark, he put up one of the best performances a Brewers pitcher has given this season.
The Brewers took the lead on the second inning off a two-run Caleb Gindl homer. They added on a third in the seventh frame as Jean Segura drove in Yuniesky Betancourt with a single.
As soon as Estrada came out of the game, the Reds began to threaten. Brandon Kintzler allowed to consecutive singles followed by a fielders' choice groundout by Zack Cozart to put runners on the corners with one out. In the face of danger, Kintzler struck out Chris Heisey and Shin-Soo Choo to end the inning with no damage done.
Jim Henderson had some issues during the ninth as he gave up a homer to Joey Votto and allowed Jay Bruce to single with two outs, bringing the tying run to the plate. Henderson got Devin Mesoraco to line out to end the game.
The first inning was something to behold if you enjoy little league baseball. With Shin-Soo Choo on second, Joey Votto walked. Choo stole third base as Aramis Ramirez dropped a wide throw, then sat and looked at the umpire without bothering with the ball or paying attention to anything while Votto stole second. With the ball sitting about five feet from Ramirez.
Brandon Phillips then flew out to right-center field and Choo almost thought about tagging up, then didn't, then decided to after all as the throw home went to the backstop. When Jonathan Lucroy got the next throw home, Choo would have been safe had he slid but instead kind of...stopped in front of Lucroy to be tagged out. I don't know. The whole thing was weird.
The Brewers head to Pittsburgh next to take on the Pirates. They are off tomorrow, but it's Kyle Lohse and Jeff Locke on Tuesday. Gerrit Cole starts for the Pirates on Thursday. This is Gerrit Cole.
Bring it on, booger eaters.