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Winning Pitcher: Wily Peralta
Losing Pitcher: Mat Latos
SV: Francisco Rodriguez
HR: Billy Hamilton (6)
Wily Peralta didn't exactly cruise through the first two innings, but the Reds didn't make too much noise either. Unfortunately Peralta made the cardinals sin in the third inning by walking the opposing pitcher (to lead off the inning no less). A ground out advanced Latos to second base and a wild pitch brought him to third with still just the one out. Skip Schumaker chopped one to very shallow short about a mile high and it seemed like there was no chance Latos wouldn't score. Somehow, though, Segura was able to glove it and throw it to home plate in time for the out. The next batter grounded out and the Brewers escaped without giving up a run.
Cue up some "Yakety Sax." In the bottom of the third inning Jean Segura scorched a line drive to right-center. It was an easy double. He was running full speed but still decided to try for three bases. Had the throw been on the line he'd have been out by a mile. Instead it ricocheted off his foot and into the Reds dugout. By the time it rolled in, Segura was at third base and so was awarded home. That's how the Brewers scored their first run.
Still in the third inning, Wily Peralta made up for walking Latos by taking 9 pitches before lining a single up the middle on pitch 10. Gomez followed up with a grounder up the middle and Scooter Gennett found himself at the plate with runners at first and second. He would fly out to medium center, but hilariously, Wily Peralta would tag up and advance to third on a weak throw by Billy Hamilton. Both Peralta and Gomez would score a line drive to left field that (again hilariously) sailed about two feet above Chris Heisey's glove. Aramis Ramirez would wear one on the wrist but the inning ended without another run. Still, the Brewers found themselves with a 3-0 lead after three complete innings.
The Brewers got two more runs the fourth inning (I hope you left that Yakety Sax window open). Jean Segura hit a sharp rounder through the right side of the infield. Wily Peralta bunted him over. Then Carlos Gomez launched a sky high fly ball to left field that should have very likely been an easy out. Instead Chris Heisey lost the ball in the lights, it bounced right in front of the wall and out for a ground rule double. Gomez stole third base and then Gennett grounded to first. It should have been an easy out, but the first baseman kicked it around a bit. Gennett was safe and Gomez scored.
Billy Hamilton ended the shutout in the sixth inning with a lead off home run to deep right-center. Skip Schumaker doubled down the left field line. The Brewers attempted a challenge, but the call was upheld. A ground out advanced him to third base. Devin Mesoraco struck out on a called check swing. It might have been a "make up call" as the previous check swing looked more egregious. Mesoraco threw a fit and was lucky to not get thrown out. His manager however was not so lucky. Peralta got David Lutz to strikeout as well to end the inning and strand the runner at third. Brewers still up 5-1.
Wily Peralta would pitch another (1-2-3) inning before calling it a night. He was shaky for the first three innings, but settled in nicely despite the home run to Hamilton. He went 7 innings, gave up 3 hits, 2 walks, 1 run, and recorded 5 strikeouts.
A tip of the cap to Mat Latos who, despite all the hits and runs, was able to come back and pitch 7 total innings as well. I thought for sure he'd be done after 4 or 5. It would have been a great advantage for the Brewers to tire out the Reds bullpen.
Will Smith struggled a bit in the eighth. Kristopher Negron (I never heard of him either) led off the inning by hitting only his second home run of his career (all 13 plate appearances of it). Billy Hamilton then bunted for a hit. Smith then struck out three in a row.
With the score now 5-2, Francisco Rodriguez entered for the save in the ninth. He retired the side in order securing the Brewers victory putting the Brewers back to 10 games above .500!
The Brewers look to take the early series win in game two tomorrow. Start time is 7:10 pm CT as Jimmy Nelson faces Homer Bailey.
Other notes:
- The Cardinals had off today and the Pirates lost. So with the Brewers win they're now half a game ahead of the Cardinals, 2.5 games ahead of the Pirates, and 3.5 games ahead of the Reds.
