Donavan Blasts Reds Past Brewers

Call this one the "emergency series" as both teams were 9-11 going into it. And, while not the end of the world for a series loss for either, both teams are kind of at a crossroads. Due to Newark's ineptitude, the Reds got stuck facing Chris Sale game 1 after all, and let's just say being stranded in the airport had its consequences.

Game 1

Chris Sale vs Hunter Greene

Brewers 1, Reds 0

The game actually should have been 3-0 in the 1st, but Jaimer Candelario misses a 1-16 3-run shot. From there it was what you expected with this showdown, with both pitchers throwing no-no's through 6. At one point Chris Sale struck out 7 batters in a row. But Hunter Greene was just as good, going 7IP and getting the tough luck loss. The Brewers crack open the scoring in the 7th with some small ball, and in typical Reds ineptitude they go out without a fight. The only Reds hit was from an X ball. Yes, it was that bad. 

Sale: 8 IP; 1H; 3BB; 11K

Greene: 7 IP; 2H; 4BB; 6K; 1R/ER

Game 2

Erik Fedde vs Landon Knack

Reds 3, Brewers 0

Another snooze fest, but Landon 'rebound' Knack helped the Reds get back on track going 5IP, 1H, 2BB and 5K with no runs allowed. Reds pitching left the Brewers to just one hit all game so it felt good to return the favor. The Reds scoreless streak reached 13 innings until Brendan Donovan said enough of this and crushed a solo homer. The Reds went on to score 2 in the 6th as well, off a walk and 2 hits.  

Game 3

Jameson Taillon vs Sonny Gray

Reds 8, Brewers 2

Yaz finally came back from being injured for 10 games and the Reds decided to finally play baseball. COINCIDENCE? I THINK NOT. All 9 batters came up in the first, putting up a 6 spot. Ketel Marte and Geno Suarez delivered the big blows, a 2-run and 3-run shot, respectively. Reds went silent for a bit and the Brewers came back with 2 runs through 4 but couldn't do much after. Brendan Donovan tacked on an insurance run with another solo shot (he had 4 homers for the series).

Game 4

Ben Lively vs Michael Wacha

Reds 9, Brewers 5

Reds started the scoring first in the 2nd, starting off with a Yaz solo shot and then 3 more runs on 3 hits and a walk. Gavin "known power hitter" Lux crushes a 2-run shot in the 6th to cap off a 3 run inning for the Brewers, but the Reds tacked on 5 solo homers since the 4th inning to never really give the Brewers a chance to get back in it. 

The series was won by out-homering our opponent 10-4. As in SOM fashion, Donovan has more homers in one series (4) than Ketel Marte has all season (2). Jordan got absolute shit luck on the X ball otherwise he would have had way more runs. 

Brendan Donovan smashes four home runs to give the Reds three wins against the Brewers.