:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46187812/usa-today-8517625.0.jpg)
Brewers Starting Pitcher: Jimmy Nelson 8 IP 3 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 5 K (94 pitches)
Opponent Starting Pitcher: Johnny Cueto 8 IP 5 H 1 R 1 ER 2 BB 8 K (126 pitches)
Winning Pitcher: Johnny Cueto
Losing Pitcher: Francisco Rodriguez
SV: Aroldis Chapman
I was outside with my dog while she deposited on my front lawn what I assume is her interpretation of this Brewers season thus far and so I didn't actually see the Reds half of the first inning. I do know that Billy Hamilton singled, stole second base, and scored on a Joey Votto single. Nelson got out of then recorded 3 outs with a ground ball double play followed by a fly out.
The Brewers would answer by manufacturing their own run in the first. Elian Herrera drew a walk and advanced on a balk call. Adam Lind would drive him in with a sharp ground ball single.
Neither team would score again until the ninth inning but the Brewers made some noise in the eighth. Logan Schafer led off with a double and Ron Roencike decided it was time to bust out the bunt with arguably the Brewers best bat, Jean Segura. Sure Johnny Cueto is tough to get a hit off of, but then you're counting on Elian Herrera, a historically poor hitter, to at least hit a sac fly or then on a cold out of the gate Ryan Braun to drive in the run with 2 outs. As you might expect the Reds got out of the inning without allowing a run.
Francisco Rodriguez took over pitching duties in the ninth after a sparkling outing from Jimmy Nelson. He struck out the first batter and then walked Billy Hamilton. Joey Votto then singled Hamilton to third. The next batter popped up and you felt like there was a way out of the inning. Then K-Rod threw a wild pitch and Hamilton would score the go-ahead run on a close play at the plate. On the next pitch Brandon Phillips flew out to end the inning.
Aroldis Chapman took the mound for the Reds in the ninth and 3 batters later the Reds took game three of this four game set. Brewers drop to 2-13.
Outstanding Pitching Performance
Jimmy Nelson was dealing today. He was actually pretty amazing and to top it off he even out-pitched Johnny Cueto. He might have had fewer strike outs but he was much more efficient (look at their pitch counts at the top of the page). He also induced three double plays.
Chuckle Worthy Oddity
It's pretty rare to see a pitcher balk. In this game we got to see it twice in back to back innings. First base umpire Angel Hernandez called a balk on Johnny Cueto in the first and second inning. The first one would help the Brewers get a run in.
Next Game:
Thursday April 23, 12:40 pm CST: Kyle Lohse vs Homer Bailey