Fastball Freddy mows down Reds as Brewers win 1-0 to complete sweep

The Brewers complete the sweep of the Cincinnati Reds, and they are now 6-1. The big story of the day is Freddy Peralta. He was stellar going eight innings giving up just two hits and striking out eleven. Not one run crossed the plate for the Reds. Freddy Peralta was dealing.

His counterpart Luis Castillo was almost as good. After giving up a run in the second, Luis Castillo settled in. Over seven innings pitched, he gave up just the one run and one hit while striking out nine Brewers. This was a classic pitchers’ duel. Both Castillo and Peralta were great.

As mentioned, the Brewers struck for the only run of the game in the second. After a walk to Jesus Aguilar, he advanced to second on a balk by Castillo. Aguilar scored all the way from second off a single by Manny Pina. That would be all the Brew Crew and Fastball Freddy would need in this one.

It was encouraging to see that Peralta did not issue a single walk today. He had his two pitch repertoire on display. The Reds had obvious difficulty picking up his fastball, and the 22-year old was working the edges to perfection. His curveball was an effective pitch as well, as Joey Votto found out.

Not everything went well for the Brewers today. Unfortunately in the top fifth inning, Orlando Arcia did his best impression of Manny Machado not being “Johnny Hustle,” Failing to run out a ground ball that Eugenio Suarez bobbled twice, he was out on a play in which he should have been standing on first base. Inexcusable play that could have hurt his team. Hopefully he learns from it. Also, I am not sure what Travis Shaw was doing bunting in the sixth.

There was drama to end the game. With Josh Hader pitching in each of the past two games, and Peralta at over 100 pitches, Craig Counsell sent Alex Wilson to finish the game. Wilson walked Tucker Barnhart to start the inning. He followed that up by striking out Jesse Winker. Joey Votto popped out to third for the second out. Matt Kemp was able to single sending pitch runner Michael Lorenzen to third. With high drama in the bottom of the ninth, Eugenio Suarez came to the plate. Wilson fell behind 2-0, but was able to induce the groundout and get his first save of the season. With the win, the Brewers go three up on St. Louis and Pittsburgh as they enter play tonight.

The Brewers will have the day off tomorrow, but will return to action on Friday at Miller Park against the Chicago Cubs. Game time is 7:10 CST and Brandon Woodruff faces off against Jose Quintana. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Wisconsin and on the radio via WTMJ. And just as a reminder of how great he was today, see the GIF below as Freddy Peralta gets Yasiel Puig to end the eighth.