Playoff chances almost gone after Brewers shut out 6-0 by Reds

WP: Homer Bailey (6-9)
LP: Brandon Woodruff (2-3)

HR: Joey Votto (36), Tucker Barnhart (7)

Box Score

Facing a pitcher with an ERA over 7 and playing at home, the Brewers needed to take advantage to keep their postseason hopes going. Unfortunately, they could not take advantage at all.

Scoring started early for the Reds today. In the first inning, Joey Votto hit a solo home run off of Brandon Woodruff to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. The Brewers put together a good start with an Eric Thames single and Neil Walker walk, but Ryan Braun grounded into a double play and then Travis Shaw grounded out to end the inning.

Then, in the third inning, the Reds turned the game into a blowout. Tucker Barnhart led off with a home run. After that, a double from Homer Bailey, walk from Zack Cozart, and singles from Joey Votto, Scooter Gennett, and Eugenio Suarez increased the lead to 4-0. That ended the day for Brandon Woodruff, and Wei-Chung Wang came in. He allowed another single to Scott Schebler to increase the lead to 5-0, then Carlos Torres came in. Adam Duvall added on a sac fly to increase the score to 6-0, which would be the final margin.

The Brewers only other threat of the night came in the fourth inning. Travis Shaw and Stephen Vogt both singled to put runners at first and second. Orlando Arcia singled after that, and Travis Shaw tried to score but Billy Hamilton threw him out to end the inning. That was the last opportunity the Brewers had to score in the game.

In total, the Brewers only managed four hits, four walks, and a hit by pitch in the game. Eric Thames got on base three times, and Travis Shaw trice, but the rest of the offense was held mostly in check. Homer Bailey entered the game with an ERA near 7.00, but managed to pitch seven shutout innings in his final game of the season instead.

On the pitching side, Brandon Woodruff was charged with all six runs in 2 ¹⁄₃ innings pitched. Wei-Chung Wang and Carlos Torres allowed two of those runs to score, though were not charged for them. Jeremy Jeffress, Jacob Barnes, Junior Guerra, Oliver Drake, Matt Garza, and Taylor Williams each added on a scoreless inning to get the Brewers through the game.

Unfortunately, it went from bad to worse in the eighth. Eric Thames fouled a ball off of his foot, and went down in pain. He came out of the game and was taken for x-rays, which came back negative. His status for Thursday is up in the air, but was still in “excruciating pain” after the game.

At this point, the Brewers chances of making the playoffs are really running out. The Cubs won to take the NL Central, leaving the second wild card left as the only way to make the postseason. Of seven remaining games between the Brewers and Rockies, six have to go the Brewers way just to force a tie for the wild card, and all seven have to go the Brewers way to win it outright. The Cardinals are still in the mix as well, but all of their games and the Rockies games have to go their way just to force a tie.

The series against the Reds finishes tomorrow afternoon with the Brewers home finale. Brent Suter will face Sal Romano in the final game of the series. First pitch is at 3:10 pm.