Reds Swept by Brewers in Series, Falling Behind in NL Central Race
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds suffered a bitter defeat on Sunday, as they were swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in a three-game series at Great American Ball Park. This loss marks the Brewers’ fourth consecutive win against the Reds and their eighth victory in the season series.
“They smacked us around, there’s no hiding that,” commented Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson. “They did well. We’re confident in ourselves. When we go back there, we’ve got to prove ourselves again.”
The Brewers, who were two games behind the Reds on July 6, have now taken a two-game lead in the National League Central race. This sweep was a missed opportunity for the Reds to create some distance between themselves and their closest rival.
“I think it’s just going to fire us up more to play against them next time,” said Reds starting pitcher Ben Lively. “We’re not going to let it happen again for sure. It was a tough one.”
Lively’s strong performance, allowing only one run on a home run by Christian Yelich, was cut short as he left the game as a precaution due to cramping. However, he is expected to make his next start.
Despite suffering three consecutive shutout losses to the Brewers, the Reds’ offense showed signs of life in this game. However, a defensive lapse by center fielder TJ Friedl allowed the Brewers to score the go-ahead run. Friedl’s ambitious throw to the plate led to an easy score for Willy Adames and allowed Tyrone Taylor to advance to second base, resulting in the Brewers’ victory.
“TJ was trying to make a play,” explained Reds manager David Bell. “We encourage our outfielders and all of our defenders to make plays, to not be fearful of not making plays. In that situation, if he had to do it over again, he makes the throw to second and keeps the runner in at first. TJ will learn from that. He’s such a smart player. He does so many things right on the baseball field.”
The Reds finally ended their season-high scoreless streak at 28 innings when Joey Votto hit an RBI double in the second inning. Jake Fraley’s two-run homer in the third inning gave the Reds a 3-1 lead.
“Cincinnati notched its first extra-base hit of the series in the second inning when Joey Votto’s RBI double to the wall in left-center field scored Jonathan India. It ended the Reds’ season-high scoreless streak at 28 innings. Jake Fraley’s two-run homer in the third inning gave the Reds a 3-1 lead.”
On a positive note, the Reds’ starting pitching has been strong in their recent losses to the Brewers, allowing only five earned runs over 21 2/3 innings. However, their offense has struggled, batting only .117 and recording 51 strikeouts in those same games.
The Reds will have a chance to redeem themselves when they face the Brewers again in their final series on July 24-26 at Milwaukee. However, they must first focus on their upcoming challenging schedule, which includes a four-game series against the hot San Francisco Giants, a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks, and a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“We’ve just got to play good baseball. We’re more than capable of winning these games,” said Reds first baseman Spencer Steer. “You’ve got hot bats and they go ice cold all of a sudden. It’s just the way it goes sometimes. You’ve got to keep chipping away and find ways to win some games coming up here.”
If the regular season were to end today, all four of the Reds’ upcoming opponents would be in the postseason, while the Reds would be left out. It is crucial for them to perform at their best and secure some wins in these upcoming games to stay in contention for a playoff spot.