Brewers waste Saladino’s slam, lose to Reds 6-5

Box Score

WP: Wandy Peralta
LP: Jeremy Jeffress

HR: Eugenio Suarez 2 (26), Tyler Saladino (2)

Tonight was a tough loss to watch. The Milwaukee Brewers dropped a remarkable comeback at the hands of ANOTHER Tyler Saladino grand slam, and end up losing to the Cincinnati Reds 6-5.

One of the top performers in this one was Chase Anderson. The Brewers’ starter took the ball and set down his first three in order. In the second, Grandal erased Yasiel Puig, who was caught stealing, helping put up another zero. Anderson had a little hiccup in the third when he allowed a base hit to Reds pitcher Sonny Gray and then walked Nick Senzel with two outs. He was able to get Votto to pop out and escape with no damage.

The Brewers offense took the lead for Anderson in the bottom of the third. Christian Yelich singled with two outs before being driven in by a Yasmani Grandal double. Unfortunately, that would be it for the Brewers for some time in this game.

After a clean fourth inning, the Reds were able to peck away at Anderson for their first run. Juan Graterol singled to get on and was advanced by a sac bunt. Nick Senzel singled to move Graterol over to third and Votto finally drove him in. Anderson kept the damage limited to one run in the fifth, but would be touched up again in the sixth.

Yasiel Puig doubled to lead off the sixth and was moved to third on a bizarre Phillip Ervin single where Ervin was picked off trying to be too aggressive and get Puig home. With two outs, Matt Albers came in to replace Chase Anderson, but immediately surrendered a single to Jose Iglesias to give the Reds their first lead of the game.

Adrian Houser came in for Albers in the seventh inning and would get two easy ground outs. Unfortunately, Votto kept the inning alive to bring up the dangerous Eugenio Suarez. Suarez belted his first of two homers to give the Reds a 4-1 lead.

Milwaukee had a great chance to get a few runs back from the Reds in the seventh. Tyler Saladino walked and stole second base with one out. After Ben Gamel struck out, Lorenzo Cain and Yelich walked to load the bases. The great opportunity was lost when Grandal struck out to end the inning.

Then, what felt like a magic moment happened. Mike Moustakas led off the 8th inning with a single and was followed up by a Jesus Aguilar single. Keston Hiura pinch hit, despite being a late scratch from the line up, and walked on four pitches to load the bases. After an Orlando Arcia strikeout, Tyler Saladino came up looking to recreate history, and he did. Saladino launched his second career grand slam and second slam in two days. With the four runs across, Milwaukee was up 5-4 and turned the ball to 2018 stud Jeremy Jeffress.

But, 2019 Jeremy Jeffress isn’t the 2018 model. Jeffress sat down his first hitter on strikes but allowed Nick Senzel to reach on a single. He was able to get Joey Votto to ground out and then... then, Jeffress left a big ol’ juicy hanging curveball down the center of the plate and Eugenio Suarez got all of it. The Reds’ top hitter launch his second two-run homer into left field, quickly retaking the lead. In case you weren’t keeping track, all six of the Reds’ runs scored with two outs.

Despite the Reds using all of their top relievers, the Brewers were only able to muster a single in the ninth inning. No miracles were left in the bats.

Our Milwaukee Nine come back for game two tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. Zach Davies (8-2, 2.79 ERA) goes against Tanner Roark (5-6, 3.97 ERA).