Brewers hit Reds bullpen hard in late rally for 7-4 win

Box Score

In a critical battle between the top two teams in the division, the Brewers got the first win in the series. However, for the third straight night, the win may have come with an injury.

The game started with the Brewers getting the early advantage. In the bottom of the first, Willy Adames hit a one-out double to put a runner on base. Christian Yelich singled to get Adames to third, and Avisail Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Adames. That put the Brewers up 1-0 after one inning. However, Jace Peterson replaced Adames in the top of the second. Reports came out later that Adames was pulled from the game due to left quad discomfort and it was a precautionary move.

Meanwhile, Corbin Burnes started off well, but the potent Reds lineup ended up getting to him. In the top of the fourth, Burnes allowed the first five batters to reach base via three singles and two walks. That put the Reds up 2-1, and the first out of the inning came via a sacrifice fly that put the Reds up 3-1. Burnes worked his way out of the inning from there. He allowed another run in the sixth from a Mike Moustakas double and Tucker Barnhart single, and the Reds had a 4-1 lead.

It was an uncharacteristically rough night for Burnes, who had been solid in recent games. Entering tonight, he had allowed multiple runs in a game only once in his last nine starts. Tonight, Burnes allowed four runs in six innings, with seven hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

On the other side, Reds starter Tyler Mahle recovered from the first inning run and kept the Brewers lineup in check. In 5 ²⁄₃ innings, he allowed just the one run on five hits and a walk, while striking out eight batters. He did get into some trouble towards the end of his start, as the Brewers got two runners on with a Omar Narvaez walk and Luis Urias single, but that ended Mahle’s day. Michael Lorenzen came in and got Rowdy Tellez to end the inning, keeping the Reds up 4-1.

However, with the Brewers into the Reds lineup, their offense was able to get going. In the seventh, the first four Brewers batters reached base. Three consecutive singles from Lorenzo Cain, Manny Pina, and Kolten Wong gave the Brewers a run, and then Jace Peterson walked to load the bases. Mychal Givens came in relief of Lorenzen, and did get the next two runners out. However, those outs came on sacrifice flies, and the Brewers had a 4-4 lead. Narvaez then added a double for good measure, scoring another run and putting the Brewers up 5-4.

The Reds went to Tejay Antone, fresh off the IL for tonight’s game, to pitch the eighth inning. However, five pitches into his first batter, he had to come out of the game. He was replaced by Luis Cessa, who finished the at bat by walking Rowdy Tellez. Three batters later, Kolten Wong gave the Brewers some insurance, hitting a home run down the right field line for a 7-4 lead.

That left the Brewers bullpen to finish the game out, and they insured that this one would be a win. Between Hunter Strickland, Devin Williams, and Josh Hader, they each took an inning, and allowed a total of one walk with two strikeouts. That sealed the game for the Brewers, who came out ahead in game one of the series with the 7-4 win.

After the game, more details came out on Willy Adames’ injury. He had been battling a quad injury since the St. Louis series, and it flared up in the first. They chose to take him out at that point as a precaution, and he will get tomorrow off as well to rest.

The Brewers can lock down a series win and a guaranteed bigger lead in the division at the end of this series with a win tomorrow over the Reds. Brandon Woodruff will face Luis Castillo in the second game of the series. First pitch is at 7:10 pm and it will be on Bally Sports Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network.