Reds and Brewers - hey someone needs to win, right?

The Brewers and Reds stared at each other at the bottom of the rankings. One team is likely to rebuild after the trade of Isaac Paredes, while the other is playing like the 2026 Phillies: supposed to be a contender, low energy, exhausting to watch, and awful hitting...maybe even dead inside?

Both Jordan and I noted about 10x during this series when someone got a lead "yeah, well I can't [hit] / [pitch], so you're very much in this" whenever something happened. So the moveable object met the stoppable force in the battle of current non-playoff teams.

Game 1

Logan Webb vs Sonny Gray

Reds 7, Brewers 2

Logan Webb was the story in this one as he had a perfect game going through 5, but gave up a walk and 2 hits in the 6th to ruin that. Overall he went 8IP 6H 2BB and 8K and pitched like the ace we acquired. The Brewers and Reds dormant offenses were on full display with 1 total run scored through 4 innings but the Reds offense decided to wake up first: the 5th inning consisted of sending all 9 batters to the plate scoring 5 runs. The big shots were a 2-run single by De La Cruz and a 2-run shot by JT Realmuto. The Brewers had the bases loaded in the 7th but only managed to get 2 runs from it - one coming from a brutal 6-4-3 double play - and went 1-2-3 in the 9th.

Game 2

Merrill Kelly vs Zack Littell

Reds 2, Brewers 1

The low scoring monstrosity I thought we would get all series. The Brewers scored first off an RBI single by Ramos, but that was mostly it for them: from the 2nd-9th innings the Brewers managed just 1H and 2BB. Merrill Kelly went 8IP 2H 4BB and 6K (1R/ER). Zack Littell and his 4 column apparently were invisible as the Reds didn't hit the column at all (we hit it twice actually and found the only outs on them...I'm sorry the one was a double). Littell matched Kelly going 8IP 2H 3BB 7K and 0R. 

As we head to the 9th the Reds down 1-0, Jordan tells me how awful Duran has been for him. I usually ignore that stuff since I'm always the anomaly, but sure enough after he strikes out Jordan Beck, Gary the Sanchize Sanchez cranks a solo homer and Geno Suarez goes back to back to tie and then take the lead. Abner Uribe comes in for a quick 1-2-3 save. 

Game 3

Michael Wacha vs Carlos Rodon

Brewers 5, Reds 4

The Reds were cooking early and had 2 men on for Ramon Laureano who misses a diamond shot for a sac fly. I knew that would cost me, and yup, sure did as Carlos Rodon destroys the Reds for 8IP, 5H, 1BB, and 8K (3R/2ER). The Brewers took the lead for the majority of the game after 2 homers in the 3rd by McLain and Chourio. Brenton Doyle - who apparently is Barry Bonds on this team - puts the Reds in front by 1 with a 2-out 2-RBI single. Naturally Wacha immediately gives up the lead by dishing a 2-run shot to Xander Boegarts. We fast forward to the 9th where newly joined Daniel Palencia comes in for the save. He immediately dishes up a triple to Ketel Marte, and Troy Johnston brings him in with a 1-out single. We move to the 9th where Brad - 10.90 ERA - Keller comes in to give the Reds a chance in extras. Nope. He loads the bases with 2 outs and the Reds get the matchup they want: Abner Uribe vs Carlos Santana and his putrid hit chances vs RHP. Nope, he hits the double shot and calls game. 

Game 4

Hurston Waldrep vs Matthew Boyd

Reds 7, Brewers 2

Early scoring for both teams is again non-existent, but the Reds come alive in the 5th and 6th. The big blows were a 2-run shot by Jared Triolo (!!) in the 5th, and a 4-run 6th that consisted of 3H and 2BB. The Brewers had guys on all game - they had 11 LOB - but the only scoring came from a Nick Fortes Single**. 

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The Reds (10-14) were very lucky to get some length from their starters as 3 of the 4 went 8+ innings. Rafael Devers, somehow, managed to lower his average to .159 and now sports a sexy .550 OPS. I honestly have no idea what I can do at this point.