Dioner Navarro, who was signed as insurance in case Devin Mesoraco struggled, tripled to the gap in right center on a 3-2 pitch to allow Jay Bruce to score from first base.
Until then 23-year old Wily Peralta, Brandon Kintzler, Francisco Rodriguez, Jim Henderson and John Axford had the Reds' hitters baffled on just three hits. Peralta only allowed three hits but his right bicep tightened up on him and he had to leave the game one out into the sixth inning.
Axford had earned 15 straight saves. When he struck out Zack Cozart looking and Joey Votto swinging the Brewers felt really good about their chances.
But Todd Frazier hit the first pitch he saw for his 19th home run. It was his first since August 21 in Philadelphia. The home run seemed to infuse the Reds with energy after looking helpless all day.
Bruce bounced a hard single against the shift past the shortstop, Jean Segura. Navarro battled to a 3-2 count, hitting two out of the park but foul down the rightfield line off Axford fastballs. The Brewers' closer decided to throw a breaking ball to mix things up. Navarro hit the ball to the right center field gap and it tailed away from rightfielder Norichika Aoki. The ball fell in between Aoki and Carlos Gomez. With Bruce free to run on the full count pitch, he scored easily.
“That was a real big, big, big at bat, especially in regard to the outcome after fouling off two home run balls,” acting manager Chris Speier said.
“That was a tough at bat. Frazier got the big hit. That set the tone. Then Bruce gets on. He’s been doing it all year. I just wanted to put the ball in play and make something happen. I definitely didn’t want to strike out. I knew Jay would be running.,” said Navarro, the former All Star in Tampa.
It could have been frustrating to miss on two home run foul balls.
“It wasn’t frustrating, I was just out there battling," Navarro said. "He’s a tremendous pitcher. He’s got a great fastball. I was looking fastball. He kept challenging me and challenging me. Once I got to two strikes, I was just trying to put the ball in play and make something happen. Then he threw me a little curveball. I was waving Bruce to home plate.”
The frustration was all Axford's. The Brewers have a remote chance to make the playoffs as a wild card. This loss hurts their chances.
"As upset as I am right now this is probably the worst I've felt all
year," Axford said. "I'm just glad I went after them like I used to without putting
guys on. It was just tough. I left the ball up. Then Navarro put
together a fantastic at bat, battling, fouling balls off, then he put
the ball in the gap."
He had to get Navarro off his fastball and a little luck worked against him.
"It was to mix things up. He was fouling them off toward the third
base side. I threw something with a little break hoping he'd roll
over it. I thought Aoki had a chance at first but the ball kept
heading to the gap and never came back. It was perfectly placed there
was nothing anybody could do," Axford said.
It was Gomez who put the Brewers in position to win. He hit his 17th home run off Reds' starter Mat Latos. That was all the Brewers would get all day. Latos turned in seven strong innings, allowing just three hits and a walk himself.
The Brewers missed a chance to add onto the lead as they did so well on Wednesday night. Winning pitcher Jonathan Broxton started the ninth. Rickie Weeks singled to lead off. Ryan Braun hit a flair that fell in the middle of Brandon Phillips, Drew Stubbs and Bruce. Broxton got Aramis Ramirez to bounce to third. Frazier forced Braun at second. Broxton struck out Corey Hart and induced a fly to left by Martin Maldonado.
That set the stage for Frazier.
“What are you going to do," Frazier said. "I’ve been swinging as hard as I can. I just haven’t been able to square the ball up. I’ve felt comfortable for the past week or so, but I just haven’t been able to put anything together.”
Looking fastball?
“Dead red fastball. When you’re struggling a little bit, you always think heater and try to get it in the spot you want it.”
The Reds move to within 1/2 game of the Washington Nationals , who play the Philadelphia Phillies tonight, for the best record in baseball and the number one seed in the playoffs.
With six games left the Reds at least have a chance to win 100 games for the first time since 1976.
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| Professionally edited by ML Schirmer for proofreading services Call 513-240-3120 |
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