CINCINNATI (AP) — In a thrilling matchup on Saturday night, the Cincinnati Reds edged out the Milwaukee Brewers with a final score of 5-3, thanks to a decisive seventh-inning home run by Matt McLain. This victory marked an important moment for the Reds, who have struggled throughout the season but showcased their power at the plate.
The game featured a total of three home runs from the Reds, with Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson also contributing to the scoreboard. The match was interrupted by a rain delay lasting over two hours, which added to the tension of the evening. Despite the delay, Emilio Pagán managed to secure his 21st save in 24 attempts, successfully navigating a bases-loaded situation in the ninth inning.
For the Brewers, who currently lead Major League Baseball with a record of 88-55, William Contreras provided an early spark by hitting his 14th home run of the season in the first inning. Milwaukee holds a commanding seven-game lead in the National League Central division over the Chicago Cubs, reflecting their strong performance throughout the season. However, they have struggled with home runs, ranking last in the league with 132 total home runs.
Contreras’s homer was quickly answered by De La Cruz, who hit his 22nd of the year off pitcher Dustin May in the bottom of the first inning. The game saw several lead changes, with the Reds initially trailing 2-1 before José Trevino's single tied the game in the fourth inning. The Reds continued to fight back, with Stephenson hitting his 15th home run in the sixth inning, only for the Brewers to respond with three consecutive singles, allowing Jackson Chourio to tie the game once more.
In a pivotal moment, Reds pitcher Tony Santillan struck out Contreras with the bases loaded, preventing the Brewers from taking the lead. McLain's seventh-inning homer off Aaron Ashby (13-3) proved to be the game-winner, and Eugenio Suárez added an insurance run in the eighth after doubling and scoring on a wild pitch by Grant Anderson.
Despite a late-game rally from the Brewers, who loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, Pagán managed to close out the game. Luis Lara popped up, and Contreras flew out, sealing the Reds’ victory. Andrew Abbott's outing was cut short due to the rain delay, and he has not secured a win since August 6 against the Athletics.
In his first major league start, Carlos Jorge went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts, a challenging debut for the young player. Looking ahead, the Reds will face the Brewers again on Sunday, with Milwaukee's left-hander Kyle Harrison (10-4, 3.45 ERA) set to take on Cincinnati's right-hander Brady Singer (5-13, 4.83 ERA). This matchup will be crucial for both teams as they navigate the final stretch of the season.
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