Corbin Burnes dominates as Brewers shutout Reds, 8-0, to secure series sweep

Box Score

The pitching staff was in a tough spot for the Milwaukee Brewers heading into Sunday’s series finale against the Cincinnati Reds. The bullpen picked up a big workload in Saturday’s extra-inning game, and Brad Boxberger’s status was up in the air with his shoulder issue. Fortunately for the Menomonee Valley Nine, starting pitcher Corbin Burnes stepped up in a big way and shut down the opposition on the way to securing a three-game weekend sweep.

Milwaukee’s offense got to work quickly in the first inning against Sonny Gray is his return from the Injured List. On-Base Jace Peterson was plunked to lead off the game, stole second, then moved to third on a single by Luis Urias that put runners on the corners. Willy Adames walked with one out, loading the bases, then Rowdy Tellez was hit by a pitch to force home the game’s first run and make it 1-0 for the visitors.

The Brewers put men on in the second and third innings but didn’t break through again until the fifth. Urias started things off with a one-out single. After a Christian Yelich punchout, Adames and Tellez both walked to load the bases. Tyrone Taylor then singled to left to drive two runners home and make it 3-0, then Jackie Bradley, Jr. laced a triple to right to add two more runs and push the score to 5-0.

In the seventh, Christian Yelich hit his first home run since June 26th (and just his 6th on the year in 62 games) to bring the score to 6-0. Two more came across in the top of the ninth, when Yelich singled to center and Adames launched his 11th home run in his 51st game as a Brewer. That brought the score to 8-0, where things would end once everything was all said and done for this contest.

The Reds got zero because Corbin Burnes cruised through his start. He was both dominant and efficient, working into the ninth inning before crossing the 100-pitch threshold. Burnes gave up five hits — all singles — and walked one. He punched out 12, and didn’t have multiple batters reach base in any inning until the final one. In the ninth, Jesse Winker singled with one out, then Joey Votto reached base when he grounded to first and Tellez threw wildly to second base. An infield single loaded the bases and ended the day for Burnes, but then Angel Perdomo punched out Eugenio Suarez and Tucker Barnhart to close out the game and secure the victory for the Brew Crew.

Monday will be an off-day for Milwaukee, then they’ll return to American Family Field to begin an interleague series against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.