Reds offense explodes to knock off Brewers 11-5

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

It's difficult not to give this honor to the entire Reds offense. On Saturday night they racked up 16 hits and 11 runs to knock off the Brewers in Milwaukee. However, if one performance has to be singled out, then the nod probably goes to Eugenio Suarez (sorry Joey Votto). Heading to the top of the 6th the Reds led 1-0. After Cincinnati tacked on two more runs in the inning, Suarez connected for a three run homer to put this one out of reach. It was his 19th home run of the season. On the night he was 2-5 with 2 runs and 3 RBI. Suarez entered this game only hitting .243/.275/.405 in August, but he's homered in two of his last three games. He's also recorded a hit in five of his last six.

Not just outta here... way outta here. #Reds https://t.co/zkgSqNtpUU

— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 14, 2016

Honorable mentions: Billy Hamilton was 2-4 with a triple; Zack Cozart was 2-5 with 2 runs and 1 RBI; Joey Votto continued his recent run going 4-5 with 2 RBI; Adam Duvall, Brandon Phillips and Tucker Barnhart also recorded two hits a piece.

Key Plays

• The Brewers were able to get two runners on in the bottom of the 2nd. However, Dan Straily ended the threat by striking out Martin Maldonado.
• Cincinnati got on the board first in the top of the 3rd. The Reds had one out when Billy Hamilton tripled on a ball in to right field. Joey Votto brought Hamilton home on a single to left.
• The flood gates opened for the Reds offense in the top of the 6th. Votto led off the inning with a single, and Adam Duvall followed with a single of his own. Brandon Phillips made it three singles in a row, and Votto scored on the play. With Scott Shebler at the plate Zach Davies threw a wild pitch that plated Duvall. Eventually Schebler walked to give Cincinnati runners on first and third with no one out. Let's head to the next bullet point for even more details from the inning.
• Michael Blazek entered the game for the Brewers, and he promptly gave up a three run homer to Eugenio Suarez. The Reds now led 6-0. However, they weren't done yet. Tucker Barnhart singled, and Dan Straily reached base on a throwing error by Orlando Arcia. That made seven straight Reds batters who reached base. Billy Hamilton grounded out, but Zack Cozart singled to bring home Barnhart. Votto then doubled to score Hamilton. Finally, Cozart scored on an Adam Duvall sac fly. By the end of the inning it was 9-0 Reds.
• In the bottom of the 6th the Brewers got two runs back. Ryan Braun hit a solo shot off of Straily. After three straight Brewers recorded base hits, the Reds turned the ball over to Jumbo Diaz. With the bases loaded Keon Broxton scored Scooter Gennett on a force out.
• In the top of the 7th Eugenio Suarez scored on a Tony Renda ground out. Suarez had doubled and Barnhart had singled prior to Renda's at bat.
• The top of the 8th brought more runs for Cincinnat. Cozart led off the inning with a single. Joey Votto doubled again to give the Reds runners on second and third with nobody out. Brandon Phillips eventually drove in Cozart on a ground out to the short stop.
• In the bottom of the 8th Martin Maldonado hit a two run homer off of Josh Smith. That cut Cincinnati's lead to 7.
• Milwaukee added one more run in the bottom of the 9th when Scooter Gennett doubled home Ryan Braun.

A FanGraph taking the stairs down to victory town

Other Notes

• Tyler Holt replaced Billy Hamilton in the field prior to the bottom of the 6th. Zach Buchanan reported that Hamlton jammed his thumb earlier in the inning.
• Oh yeah, Buchanan also reminded Reds fans that Joey Votto is now batting .301. He's hitting .442 in the second half of the season.
• Everyone's favorite statistician, Joel Luckhaupt, left us with this gem regarding Dan Straily. "Dan Straily now has more PA (52) in the big leagues without a hit than any player in history who never got a hit."
• Earlier in the day Mark Sheldon wrote about Michael Lorenzen's increased confidence.
• Tomorrow the Reds and Brewers will do it all over again at 2:10 PM ET. Cody Reed will look for that elusive first win.
• Tunes.