Field Level Media
Jul 24, 2019
Yasmani Grandal hit a go-ahead, two-run, bases-loaded single in the fifth inning, and the host Milwaukee Brewers averted a three-game sweep with a 5-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon.
Milwaukee snapped a five-game losing streak to the Reds after allowing 20 runs in the first two games of the series.
The Brewers loaded the bases for Grandal when Christian Yelich worked a walk against Amir Garrett. Grandal then gave Milwaukee a 5-4 lead when he hit a full-count fastball just out of shortstop Jose Iglesias' range into left field, allowing Orlando Arcia and Lorenzo Cain to score.
Rookie Keston Hiura started the fifth by extending his hitting streak to 13 games with a solo homer off Lucas Sims (1-1). Ryan Braun hit a two-run homer in the first inning after the Reds jumped ahead five batters in.
Rookie Josh VanMeter homered, had an RBI single and fell a triple shy of the cycle for the Reds, who gave Eugenio Suarez the day off. Scooter Gennett hit an RBI double after VanMeter's RBI single in the first, and Joey Votto added an RBI single in the second.
VanMeter's 463-foot homer was the longest hit by a visiting player at Milwaukee this season, easily clearing the second deck in right-center field and staking the Reds to a 4-2 lead in the third.
The Reds lost two starters for medical reasons. Rookie Nick Senzel exited due to illness after leading off the game with a single, and catcher Juan Graterol departed after taking a foul ball from Cain off his mask in the fifth.
Milwaukee pulled starter Jhoulys Chacin after three innings due to discomfort in his right rib cage. Chacin, who allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits, appeared to get hurt running out of the batter's box on a groundout in the third.
Five relievers followed Chacin, with Matt Albers (5-3) getting the win after recording the final out of the fifth.
Josh Hader fanned five in two scoreless innings. Freddy Peralta pitched a perfect ninth and converted his first career save by retiring Votto on the ninth pitch on a lineout to the warning track in left field.
Sims made his second start of the season and allowed five runs on three hits in 4 2/3 innings. He was lifted after allowing a single to Cain.
--Field Level Media