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The Milwaukee Brewers returned back home to American Family Field on Thursday night to begin a four-game series with the Cincinnati Reds, and the offense got off to quick start to set the tone for this game. Adrian Houser stranded the bases loaded in the top half of the inning, then the hitters put pressure on Tyler Mahle right away. Luis Urias led off with a walk, then Christian Yelich was hit by a pitch. Willy Adames grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Omar Narvaez walked to load the bases. An infield single by Avisail Garcia scored the game’s first run, then a bases-loaded walk by On-Base Jace Peterson forced in another, and it was 2-0 Brewers at the end of the first inning.
The Reds knocked Houser out of the game in the fifth. The inning began with Jesse Winker reaching on an error by Peterson at second base, then back-to-back one-out walks loaded the bases. Houser was replaced by Jake Cousins, who got Eugenio Suarez to line out but then uncorked two wild pitches that allowed runners to score and tie the ballgame at a 2-2. Tucker Barnhart would eventually single to score the runner remaining on third base, giving the Reds a 3-2 lead. All the runs were charged to Houser, but were unearned, as he went 4.1 innings with five hits, four walks, and six strikeouts.
The Brewers tied things back up in the sixth. Omar Narvaez doubled to lead off, then with two outs, Keston Hiura roped an RBI double to left to bring Omar home and make it 3-3. It was Narvaez getting things started again in the eighth inning, reaching on a single deflected off of the shortstop. The next batter, Avi Garcia, went deep for his 16th home run of the year to give the Brewers a 5-3 advantage.
Brent Suter, Devin Williams, and Josh Hader each tossed a scoreless inning after Cousins, with Hader closing out his 21st save of the season. Game two between the Brewers and Reds on Friday night will feature a battle of lefties as it’s Eric Lauer versus Wade Miley, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 PM central.