MILWAUKEE — The Cincinnati Reds showed some fight Saturday night. Unfortunately, their pitching staff showed very little.
Cincinnati erased an early four-run deficit before surrendering eight unanswered runs in a 13-9 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field. It was the Reds’ fifth consecutive loss and their second straight game allowing at least 13 runs.
Milwaukee wasted little time attacking Brady Singer. Brice Turang launched a two-run homer in the first inning, and Garrett Mitchell added another two-run shot later in the frame to give the Brewers a 4-0 lead.
Unlike Friday night’s 20-0 humiliation, the Reds responded.
Eugenio Suárez led off the second with his 23rd home run of the season. Dane Myers singled in the third and scored on Elly De La Cruz’s RBI double, cutting the deficit to 4-2.
Milwaukee added another run in the bottom of the third, but Cincinnati came all the way back one inning later. Suárez singled before JJ Bleday doubled him home. Juan Brito then hammered a two-run homer to left-center, tying the game at five.
Singer allowed consecutive singles to begin the bottom of the fourth before William Contreras launched a three-run homer, immediately restoring Milwaukee’s lead at 8-5. Singer allowed eight runs on eight hits and five walks over four innings. He surrendered three home runs and threw 95 pitches while falling to 6-14.
Graham Ashcraft replaced him in the fifth and somehow made matters worse. The Brewers battered Ashcraft for five runs on six hits and one walk while he recorded only one out. Jake Bauers drove in two runs, Christian Yelich added an RBI single and Mitchell delivered a two-run double that extended Milwaukee’s lead to 13-5.
Mitchell finished 4-for-5 with a home run, a double, two runs and four RBIs. Contreras drove in three, while Turang scored twice and added two RBIs.
Cincinnati made the final score slightly less hideous by scoring four times in the eighth. A passed ball brought home Sal Stewart before Suárez and Brito delivered RBI singles. JJ Bleday scored the final run when Ke’Bryan Hayes grounded into a double play.
Suárez finished 3-for-4 with three runs and two RBIs. Brito went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs, while Bleday added two hits, two runs and an RBI.
The Reds collected 12 hits and scored nine runs. On most nights, that should be enough. But, these are not most nights.
Cincinnati fell to 69-79 and has now allowed 33 runs during the first two games of the series.
What’s Next: The Reds will attempt to avoid a sweep Sunday afternoon at American Family Field. Chase Burns is scheduled to start for Cincinnati, with first pitch set for 2:10 p.m. ET.
