The Milwaukee Brewers earned a comeback win over the Reds and are close to clinching a playoff berth with a 4-2 win. The Cubs were losing 6-1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh. A loss by the Cubs would mean that either a Cubs loss in the last five games or a Brewers' win will allow them to guarantee a Wild Card spot. They are a 1/2 game behind Washington for the home field Wild Card spot.
The Brewers trail the Central Division leaders the St. Louis Cardinals by 3-1/2 games, giving them an outside chance of winning the division.
The Reds were up to their normal first inning tricks against Brewers' starter Adrian Houser.
Joey Votto ripped a double down the line in right field. One out later Aristides Aquino hit a liner to the left center field gap and legged out a double, driving in his 47 run of the season in the two months he's been in the big leagues. Aquino scored on a bloop single by Tucker Barnhart.
The Reds have now scored a Major League high, 128 runs in first innings this season.
The Brewers on the verge of clinching a post season spot came back against Sonny Gray, who is making his last start of the season. David Bell announced before the game that Sunday will be a bullpen day.
Ryan Braun hit his 21st home run of the season to open the second inning against Gray. The drive off the batter's eye in center field. It was the 27th of his career at Great American Ball Park, by far the most he's hit in any road ballpark.
The Brewers took the lead in the third off Gray who struck out Trent Grisham leading off the game for his 200th strikeout of the season. It was Gray's first 200 strikeout season, his previous high was 183 with the Oakland Athletics in 2014.
Orlando Arcia singled, Houser bunted him to second base. Trent Grisham walked. Former Reds' first round draft pick Yasmani Grandall doubled to score Arcia. Mike Moustakas walked to load the bases. Grisham scored on Keston Hiura's fly to right.
Gray pitched five innings before being lifted for a pinch hitter after the fifth inning. He allowed three runs on three hits in five innings with two walks and six strikeouts. Gray will finish the season with 11 wins and seven losses, pitching 175-1/3 innings with a 2.87 ERA.
The Reds' key off season acquisition had a horrible year with the New York Yankees last year. This year he allowed fewer than six hits in 27 of his 31 starts. He never allowed more than four runs in a game. His total of 205 strikeouts made him and Luis Castillo the first duo of Reds' pitchers to strikeout more than 200 batters in the same season.
"Looking back it was quite a ride this year," Gray said after he started spring training with a sore elbow. "Honestly, I got to enjoy the game more. I actually got excited again when it was my turn to pitch. There are things that I want to do better, like going deeper in games. I had to grow up in so many ways."
The turning point came when he came to Cincinnati with his Vanderbilt teammate catcher, Curt Casali and his college pitching coach Derek Johnson, who completed his first season as the Reds' pitching coach.
"I think the world of that guy (Johnson)," Gray said. "He was at my house when I was 15. He was a father figure to me. He taught me how to pitch twice."
David Bell is looking forward to having him back for two more seasons.
"He deserves a ton of credit for what he's done," Bell said. "We will be fortunate to have him two more seasons. He's turned himself into one of the best in the game."
Indeed Gray will finish in the top 10 for Earned Run Average in the National League
Houser turned the game over to Moeller High School grad Brent Suter, who got the win, in the fifth inning.
The Brewers threatened to extend the lead with one out in the eighth. Amir Garrett walked Grandal. Mike Moustakas doubled. David Bell brought in Matt Bowman, who struck out Keston Hiura and Cory Spangenberg to keep the game close.
Milwaukee added a run in the ninth. Bowman walked Eric Thames. Lorenzon Cain singled through the hole at second base. Arcia layed down a bunt that was fielded by Curt Casali. There was no play on Arcia but Casali's throw got away from Votto but hit Brewers' first base coach to prevent further advancement as Thames scored.
Hard throwing Josh Hader allowed two out hits to Christian Colon and Jose Peraza. Kyle Farmer represented the winning run. Farmer fouled off three two-strike pitches before he struck out to end the game.
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