Milwaukee Brewers come back to beat Reds, 6-5

The story should be that the Milwaukee Brewers finally scored runs. The story should be that they snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the Cincinnati Reds. The story should be that Domingo Santana finally got a clutch hit. But the story is actually what happened on the mound over the last 2.2 innings.

With one out in the seventh inning, Milwaukee Brewers’ manager Craig Counsell brought out bullpen ace Josh Hader with a one-run lead. Here’s the result of every plate appearance against Hader: K, K, K, BB, K, K, K, K, K. Hader recorded all eight of his outs with a strikeout. It was amazing and if you can go back to watch it, you should. No pitcher in MLB history has ever recorded as many as eight outs only via strikeout.

Meanwhile, the Brewers offense did FINALLY score some runs, but it wasn’t easy. With every run scored the Reds had an answer.

It started when the Brewers took the lead on a Manny Piña home run to make it 1-0 in the fourth and snap a 22-inning scoreless streak dating back to Friday. Then, the Reds plated two with a Eugenio Suarez double in the bottom of the inning.

Milwaukee would come back to take the lead with a Lorenzo Cain two-run homer in the fifth. But again, the Reds would score three in the bottom of the fifth.

Finally, the Crew took the lead in a weird but successful seventh inning. The scoring started when Christian Yelich and Ryan Braun stole third and second. A wild throw from Tucker Barnhart to third would let Christian Yelich walk home to make it 5-4 Reds. A batter later, Domingo Santana laced a double over the head of Billy Hamilton to make it 6-5.

Then, as previously mentioned, the Brewers brought out Josh Hader to nail it down over 2.2 innings. So far this season, Hader has pitched 18 innings and struck out 39 against 5 walks.

The pitching wasn’t all as great as Hader. Jhoulys Chacin had yet another short start. Chacin allowed the Suarez two-run double and a run in the fifth before being pulled after recording only one out. The normally reliable Dan Jennings would come out and give up a hit and a walk, allowing Chacin’s fourth run to score. Barnes followed and allowed another inherited runner to score before getting the final two outs of the fifth.

Brandon Woodruff bridged the gap from the other pitchers with 1.1 perfect innings and two Ks.

The Brewers are taking on the Reds again tomorrow night. Chase Anderson (2-2, 2.86 ERA) heads to the mound against Homer Bailey (0-3, 4.19 ERA). First pitch is at 6:10 p.m.