Brewers best Reds, 4-3

The Brewers got the better of the Reds in a well-played, come-from-behind win on Saturday.

This season, the Brewer faithful have been frustrated by brilliant pitching performances that end in losses after scant offensive production. Today, Brett Anderson and Brent Suter performed to their standard baselines and the offense backed them up just enough for a win.

Anderson did appear to give up the ghost when he allowed two home runs in the third, but proceeded to induce enough contact outs to hold the Reds to only those two runs through five innings. He ended the day with three strikeouts, no walks, and allowed only two hits in addition to the two home runs.

Luis Urías tempered some of the more reductive and pessimistic narratives surrounding his demotion to utility player after the Crew traded for shortstop Willy Adames. With Kolten Wong sidelined after a hit by pitch, Urías filled in for Wong at second. Urías, despite his recent case of the yips, fielded the position soundly. He also allowed the Brewers to strike first with a solo shot to left field in the third inning.

The Brewers would be mostly quiet on the offensive end until the sixth. Adames, who was the center of attention as the return of a notable trade, hit a very long single in the top of the fourth. It would have likely been an extra-base hit for Adames, but the not-so fleet of foot Daniel Vogelbach, held at second after reaching on a single of his own. Adames went 1-3 with a walk on the day.

Things really got going for the Crew at the bat in the sixth inning Omar Narváez led off with a double. Avisaíl García walked to put runners at first and second with no outs. Vogelbach and Travis Shaw flew out and struck out, respectively, which brought Willy Adames to the plate with two outs. Adames walked on four pitches and Jackie Bradley Jr. to the plate with the bases loaded. JBJ smoked a liner towards first base and off the glove of Alex Blandino. The deflection allowed JBJ to reach, Narváez to score easily, and García to score just barely.

Brent Suter worked with his signature pace and placement in middle inning relief, but allowed a double and a single to Nick Castellanos and Tyler Stephenson, respectively, which allowed a run for the Reds to tie it 3-3 in the sixth.

The seventh inning produced an unlikely home run from Daniel Robertson. Today’s contest was Robertson’s first appearance after a lengthy IL and rehab stint following a beanball concussion on April 25. Robertson was slashing .105/.190/.132 across 43 plate appearances with the Crew and .056/.150/.056 during his rehab stint with Triple-A Nashville. Robertson homered off the first pitch he saw in his return, an 83 MPH slider from Heath Hembree.

Devin Williams and Josh Harder were lights out to preserve the lead. For the first time in his most recent appearances, Devin Williams looked like ROY Devin Williams of 2020. He put considerable movement in both directions on his Airbender to allow him to strike out the side in the eighth.

Christian Yelich got a pinch-hit at-bat in the ninth, but otherwise sat today. He struck out on a foul tip to lead off a 1-2-3 inning for the crew.

Hader worked with mixed sliders and upper 90s fastballs to strike out the side and preserve the lead and secure the win in the ninth.