First, last innings haunt Reds in 4-3 loss to Milwaukee.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Reds’ outfielders had yet to collect a hit in this short season. That all changed tonight in the bottom of the 5th inning when Puig roped a double down the left field line to bring in 2 runners and get the Reds back into the game. In all, he went 1 for 3 with a walk and 2 RBI. That’s good enough for tonight, because tonight has sucked.

Honorable mentions are due to: Amir Garrett, for looking fantastic in his 1.2 innings of work; Zach Duke and David Hernandez, for each throwing a shutout inning of relief; and Jose Peraza and Tucker Barnhart, for each collecting two base-hits.

Key Plays

• Milwaukee wasted no time getting ahead of Tanner Roark and the Reds tonight, as the batted around in the top of the first. Lorenzo Cain led off with a four-pitch walk. After a Christian Yelich strikeout, Roark served up a meatball to Ryan Braun who laced a double to left. Travis Shaw would then walk to load the bases, leading to a Jesus Aguilar single to drive in 2. That brought up Mike Moustakas, who would double to center to bring in Shaw. Brewers led, 3-0.
• The Reds, after seemingly threatening every inning, finally got on the board. Derek Dietrich led off and was hit by a pitch then moved to second on a wild pitch. Dietrich would then advance to third on a ground out by Scott Schebler. After a Joey Votto walk, Yasiel Puig would rope a double down the left field line to score Votto and Dietrich. Brewers led, 3-2.
• The Reds were able to tie the game in the bottom of the 5th. Jose Peraza led off with a single to left and then moved to second on a single by Tucker Barnhart. Kyle Farmer would come in to pinch hit and ground into a fielder’s choice to short, leaving runners on first and third. That brought up Derek Dietrich, who hit a double play ball to second but was able to run out the throw, allowing Peraza to score from third and tie the game at 3-3.
• The score held until the top of the 9th, when Milwaukee regained the lead. Raisel Iglesias was brought on and easily retired the first two batters. He then gave up a 2-out double to Christian Yelich. That brought up Ryan Braun who hit a double of his own to score Yelich and give the Brewers a 4-3 lead.
• Curt Casali was brought on to pinch-hit in the 9th and hit a full-count pitch down the line for a lead-off double. Unfortunately that was all the Reds could muster. Reds lose, 4-3.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Yasiel Puig’s 2-RBI double in the 5th was the first hit of the 2019 season by a Reds’ outfielder. They were a combined 0-22 before that hit.
• The big news of the night came during the 8th inning, when the Reds dropped this hammer on us:

Everything is the worst.

• The Reds will try to even the series tomorrow night as Anthony DeSclafani makes his season debut. He will face off against Jhoulys Chacin. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40pm EDT.
• Tunes.