Graham Ashcraft has been throwing the dickens out of the ball but unfortunately for the rookie Reds' hurler on this day the Milwaukee Brewers were hitting the dickens out of it.
Willy Adams hit the dickens out of a first-pitch fcut fastball that Ashcraft threw him over the centerfield wall with Christian Yelich on base to propel the Brewers to a 7-3 win. It was the 13th home run of the season for Adames and fifth against the Reds this season.
Yelich scored on a double by Rowdy Tellez in the first inning. Luis Urias doubled to plate Tellez with the third run of the inning.
The Reds faced Jason Alexander, who should never be mistaken for George Costanza of Seinfeld game Alexander pitched around three hits in four frames to maintain the lead. TyBrone Taylor saved a run with a diving catch on a line drive by Brandon Drury to end the third. It was oringinally ruled a hit and RBI but was overturned.
"We hadn't seen Alexander but we knew he had good movement on his sinker, slider and change up," David Bell said. "It was tough for both teams but the shadows this time of day made it tough. He is going to win a lot of games here."
The Reds got a run in the fifth. Nick Senzel singled. Mike Moustakas walked. They moved up a base on a slow roller by Albert Almora Jr. Jace Peterson picked off a low line drive by Aramis Garcia. Senzel scored when Adames couldn't handle Jonathan India's hard ground ball.
Ashcraft left in the sixth when he walked Omar Narvaez and Taylor singled to start the inning. Reiver Sanmartin entered to face Peterson. Peterson hit a hign chopper over the head of Moustakas at first for a two-run double.
"I thought Ashcraft was pretty good," Bell said. "He faced a good lineup. He gave us a chance to win the game. There were a couple of (bad) pitches. He's not going to be perfect but he's been really good since he's been here. He's competitive and very confident. He's on the right track."
Ashcraft worked five-plus innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks. It was his first Major League loss.
"I think I have to go back to making them hit the fastball before I go to my off speed pitches," Ashcraft said.
The Reds mounted a threat in the bottom of the sixth.
Tommy Pham singled. Joey Votto hit a hard line drive right to Taylor in left. Kyle Farmer and Senzel singled to load the bases. Moustakas hit a hard line drive to center that Jonathan Davis had to race to catch at the fence. Pham scored. Max Schrock hit a pinch hit single to score Farmer. Miguel Sanchez relieved Alexander to face pinch hitter TJ Friedl. The count went full but Friedl fouled out to Peterson at third.
"The pinch hit at bats that Schrock has taken since he's been here, you kind of look for opportunities," Bell said. "He gave us the best chance to get back in the game."
Hunter Renfroe greeted Luis Cessa with his 12th home run to get one of the runs back in the seventh.
The Milwaukee bullpen finished the last 3 1/3 innings with scoreless baseball to give Alexander his first Major League win. Conversley it was Ashcraft first Major League loss.
The umpires began enforcing a rule against pitchers wearing rings. It has been on the books for awhile.
David Bell got a memo about it the other day but Ashcraft didn't know about it until the umpires told him.
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