Brewers survive late Reds rally, win 5-4

Box Score

With the Brewers on a three-game losing streak, they needed a good game to get back on the winning side and prevent a longer slump. With Freddy Peralta on the mound, he gave the Brewers the start they needed, and the offense provided him some runs as well. However, they did have to survive a late Reds rally to get this one.

The Reds struck first with back-to-back doubles in the second, giving them an early 1-0 lead. That was Peralta’s only run allowed on the night, though. Overall, it was a solid night for Peralta with just one run, four hits and one walk allowed across 5.2 innings. He struck out eight in the start as well.

Meanwhile, the Brewers offense gave Peralta some run support. Luis Urias homered in the fourth to get the Brewers on the board at 1-1. The Brewers then put together a rally in the sixth. It started with a single by Tyrone Taylor that ended Hunter Greene’s day. Tony Santillan came in next and allowed a double to Jace Peterson, putting the Brewers ahead 2-1. A hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases, and the Reds turned to reliever Lucas Sims. Kolten Wong drove in another run with a sacrifice fly, increasing the lead to 3-1. That was all the Brewers could get, though.

The Brewers bullpen came in to help support Peralta after he allowed two runners on with two outs in the sixth. Brent Suter came on and finished the inning with a strikeout before Brad Boxberger took the mound in the seventh. Boxberger pitched a clean inning with a strikeout, giving the Brewers a 3-1 lead heading into the eighth.

In the eighth, the offense added two more runs. A Peterson double and Lorenzo Cain single put two runners on, and Victor Caratini brought Peterson in with a single, increasing the lead to 4-1. After Wong hit a ground ball that erased Caratini at second, Willy Adames singled to bring in Cain and make it a 5-1 game.

All of that offense would be needed in the bottom of the inning, when Devin Williams came on and struggled. After a popout to start the inning, he allowed back-to-back walks, and then a single loaded the bases. A strikeout for the second out gave him a chance to end the inning with no damage. Unfortunately, a four-pitch walk to Colin Moran forced in a run and the lead was down to 5-2. After that, Tyler Naquin doubled to bring in two more runs, and the Brewers were clinging to a 5-4 lead. Luis Perdomo came in to finish the inning and produced a soft liner that Urias dove and caught, preventing the Reds from putting two more runs across.

The ninth was a little tense early as closer Josh Hader allowed a walk to start the inning. However, he got a flyout before striking out the last two batters, and the Brewers held on for the 5-4 win. It was Hader’s twelfth save of the year and also included career strikeout No. 500.

Most of the damage tonight came from the bottom of the Brewers lineup, as the 7-8-9 hitters each had two hits (Peterson, Cain, Caratini). Urias also reached base three times with a hit and two walks, and Yelich went 0-for-3 but got on with two walks. The Brewers had seven walks compared to just eight strikeouts as a team.

The rubber match of the series takes place tomorrow morning, with Adrian Houser facing Vladimir Gutierrez. First pitch is at 11:35 AM, and it will be exclusively televised on YouTube. It will also be on the Brewers Radio Network.