Ninth-inning heroics highlight Brewers’ 5-4 win over Reds

Jackson Chourio hit a ninth-inning home run and Jake Bauers made a diving stop to end the game

Box Score

It ended up being an eventful Saturday night in Cincinnati. What started with more scoreless innings from the pitching staff turned into a nailbiter, but the Brewers put together just enough in the ninth to get the win.

Early on, the Brewers had this looking like a repeat of Friday’s second game. As Frankie Montas kept the Reds in check, Willy Adames did his usual thing: Hit three-run home runs. Jackson Chourio hit a double and stole his 20th base first, and then William Contreras walked to set it up. Adames took advantage and the Brewers were up 3-0.

Frankie Montas pitched well early, though he did get some assistance from the Reds. In the third, back-to-back singles put runners at the corners with no outs. Spencer Steer grounded into a double play, which should have been an easy chance for Noelvi Marte to score from third. However, Marte didn’t move and remained at third. Montas got out of the inning scoreless after getting Elly De La Cruz to fly out.

The pitching staff got to 18 scoreless innings before they finally broke. In the fifth, Will Benson walked and Marte singled to put to runners on base. Luke Maile moved them up with a sacrifice bunt, and Spencer Steer singled to bring both in. That ended the scoreless streak and closed the gap to 3-2.

In the next inning, the Brewers added a much-needed insurance run. Adames singled and Blake Perkins hit a ground-rule double to put two runners on with no outs. Two batters later, Garrett Mitchell grounded out to short, but it was enough to score Adames and extend the lead to 4-2.

That run was critical as the Reds tied the game in the bottom half of the inning. Ty France walked to put a runner on base, and Amed Rosario homered. The game was tied at 4-4 after six innings. The Reds almost took the lead that inning on another long fly ball, but Blake Perkins robbed a home run from Marte to preserve the tie.

Overall the day was a rough one for Montas. He did get through six innings, but the last two were where all of the damage happened. He allowed four runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out just four.

Meanwhile, the Brewers couldn’t break through with runners on base in this one. They had a baserunner in eight of the innings, and a runner in scoring position in seven of them. However, they went 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position (for the lone hit, see “Willy Adames” above). They also left 10 runners on base as a team.

Aaron Ashby took the seventh and eighth innings and continued his dominance since returning to the majors. Over two innings, he allowed a hit and a walk but struck out three as well. Fast forward to the ninth inning, and all of the tension came to a head. With one out in the inning, Chourio finally broke through the tie. He hit his 17th home run of the season off lefty Justin Wilson, giving the Brewers a 5-4 lead.

The Brewers tried to add on in the ninth. With two outs, Jake Bauers escaped his four-strikeout day with a single, then reached third thanks to a close steal and a throwing error on a pickoff attempt. Adames walked to put two runners on base, but Perkins flew out to end the inning.

Devin Williams came out for the ninth inning, holding his streak against the Reds without allowing a hit. While he technically kept that going, it’s not really an indication of how this one went. Williams got into a lot of trouble. He did strike out Marte and Steer around a walk of pinch-hitter Tyler Stephenson. However, after that, he walked Elly De La Cruz on five pitches, then hit TJ Friedl with a pitch on the knee to load the bases. Ty France had a chance to win the game, and on a 1-2 pitch he hit a ball hard towards the first base line. It would have been a walk-off, had Jake Bauers not made an incredible diving stop. He ran to the base to secure the Brewers’ 5-4 win.

Chourio led the offense as he went 3-for-4, a day after rolling his ankle. It’s safe to say that’s not affecting him at all. Adames and Perkins added two-hit days as well. Unfortunately, in addition to the 1-for-15 day with runners in scoring position, the team also struck out a total of 14 times. Jake Bauers led that with a four-strikeout day, though made up for it with a hit and strong defense in the ninth.

With the win, everything holds in the standings for the day. The Brewers maintain a 10-game lead in the Central as the Cubs also won. The Phillies and Dodgers also picked up wins, so their position in the standings holds as well.

The Brewers will go for the sweep tomorrow morning. In an early 11:10 a.m. start, it will be Tobias Myers getting the start for the Brewers. Meanwhile, the Reds have yet to name a starter and will need someone to take several innings after a bullpen game. The game will be on Bally Sports Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network.