CINCINNATI — It had been 44 series over nearly two years since the Cincinnati Reds were swept at Great American Ball Park, but it was no surprise the first team to take every game in a series from the Reds at home this season was the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Reds entered their first series against the National League Central-leading Brewers just 2-13 against division teams without even facing the best one. Now they’re 2-16 with their next seven games coming against divisional foes after Wednesday’s 6-5 loss.
The Reds enter Thursday’s off day a season-high five games below .500 at 37-42 — the furthest below .500 the team has been since the end of the 2024 season. The last sweep at home was in August 2024 at the hands of the Kansas City Royals.
Mark Attanasio might own the Brewers, but the Brewers own the Reds. Since the start of the 2023 season, the Brewers have won 30 of 42 games against the Reds. Milwaukee’s also won 36 of 48 games at Great American Ball Park since Sept. 24, 2019, and each of the last nine series here.
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“I think it’s too blanket of a statement — every game is different, and I always feel that way,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “They’re a very good team, and they’re hard to beat because they challenge you in so many ways. But we just have to be more consistent in a number of areas.”
Here are some takeaways from a disappointing series:
It’s the bats
To say the Reds had their chances Wednesday would be an understatement. They loaded the bases in the second inning and got nothing out of it. All year, there’s been talk about needing to get the “big hit.” It’s not just that, it’s any hit.
Though the Reds left 16 men on base Wednesday, one shy of their season high of 17 in a 4-2 loss to the New York Mets on May 27, the issue for the offense this season hasn’t been hitting with runners in scoring position — it’s been hitting in any situation.
Though the Reds’ batting average is lower with runners in scoring position (.217) than overall (.226), they have a higher on-base percentage (.316) and slugging percentage (.394) with runners in scoring position than overall (.309 and .389).
Though it’s easy to throw your hands up in the air with the 16 in the LOB column, the outlier is getting 16 men on base to strand.
The Reds collected 11 hits and 11 walks against five Brewers pitchers Wednesday after managing just two hits in each of the first two games of the series and none in the first five innings of either Monday’s 2-1, 10-inning loss or Tuesday’s 2-0 loss.
“I know we left a lot on,” Francona said. “It’s better than not having anybody on.”
Little things add up
The Reds entered May 20-12 and in first place in the division in part because they were playing the “clean baseball” Francona preached all spring.
Milwaukee, on the other hand, is one of the best teams in baseball at doing all the things necessary to win games. The Brewers scored just four more runs than the Reds in the three-game series, which highlights all the small plays that could’ve turned the tide. Though the Reds showed they could hang with the Brewers, executing the little things could’ve changed the series from being swept to doing the sweeping.
Monday’s deciding run was scored on a wild pitch by Reds reliever Tony Santillan, allowing the Brewers to score a second run in the 10th inning of what had been a scoreless game through nine. In Tuesday’s game, the Brewers’ first run came on a triple that could’ve been a double with the lead runner stopping at third had right fielder Noelvi Marte fielded the ball cleanly.
Wednesday, the Reds rallied to pull within a run with a three-run eighth and got their No. 8 and 9 hitters on base with no outs, but second baseman Edwin Arroyo’s sacrifice bunt attempt didn’t move the runners over, instead resulting in the first out of the inning at third base. After a walk to Elly De La Cruz, Dane Myers grounded into a game-ending double play.
“We were talking through all the strategy in the ninth, and one of the things me and (bench coach) Freddie (Bendavides) kind of thought it’d be hard to double up Dane,” Francona said. “That’s exactly what happened.”
Rotation can still be a strength
Though the Reds offense continued to be missing in action, the rotation that was promised is taking form.
Reds starters allowed three runs in the three-game series, all three off Rhett Lowder in the third inning of Wednesday’s loss. Lowder still finished an out shy of a quality start, which would have been his first since beating the Tampa Bay Rays on April 20..
Brady Singer had his best outing Monday, allowing just two hits over seven innings, while Nick Lodolo gave up just two hits — both infield singles — in his four innings before leaving with a left wrist contusion.
Lowder was 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA entering May before two short starts and a stint on the injured list, said, “I feel like I’m doing things that I wasn’t doing earlier in the year and even like right before I got hurt. … But ultimately you need to win games and keep runs off the board.”
The Reds could get Hunter Greene back as soon as July 3, which would give them a sixth legitimate starter, in addition to Burns, Abbott, Lodolo, Singer and Lowder.
If that pushes Lowder to the minors, it could only help bolster the team’s bullpen.
Elly De La Cruz provided a reminder he’s the Reds’ best defensive shortstop. (Albert Cesare / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Elly and McLain together again
It didn’t take long to be reminded of what the duo of De La Cruz and Matt McLain can do in the middle of the infield, even when the pair wasn’t able to turn a double play. After Lowder hit Christian Yelich to start the game, De La Cruz was able to range to his right on a grounder by Jackson Chourio, with McLain’s quick turn making the play much closer than expected off the bat. McLain also saved a run with a nice diving play to end the sixth.
It was the first time the two had played side-by-side in the field since May 30, the day before De La Cruz injured his right hamstring.
McLain filled in admirably at shortstop in De La Cruz’s absence, but he’s the team’s best defensive second baseman — and De La Cruz is the team’s best defensive shortstop.
Schedule doesn’t let up
Ten of the Reds’ 16 remaining games before the All-Star break are against divisional foes — three this weekend in Pittsburgh against the Pirates, followed by four in Milwaukee. The Reds then head into the break with a nine-game homestand featuring three games each against the Baltimore Orioles, Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs.