Brewers Pitchers Throttle Reds Again Solo Homers Provide The Margin

Andrew Abbott was hit hard for the first time in his young career in his last start against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. He gave up six runs in 4 1/3 innings after allowing only five total in his first six starts.

Christian Yelich led off the game with his 12th home run of the season. William Contreras and Owen Miller also hit home runs with the bases empty, Miller's coming off Buck Farmer.

"(Yelich) just ambushed a fastball the first pitch of the game," Abbott said. "I didn't think it was going to get out. It did. You just have to bear down and don't let them score more than one in an inning, if you can."

The 3-0 score allowed Milwaukee to open a slim one-game lead on the Reds in the National League Central as they have now won seven of the nine games played between the two teams with four more to go. The last three will be played in Milwaukee.

Brewers starters Wade Miley and Corbin Burnes shutout the Reds twice in two straight games that spanned the All-Star game. 

Freddy Peralta followed suit with six shutout innings allowing just an infield hit to Jake Fraley. Elvis Peguero pitched a scoreless seventh that kept the Reds off the scoreboard for 25 straight innings.

Joel Payamps added the Reds' 26th straight scoreless frame.

All-Star Devin Williams pitched the ninth to earn his 22nd save by striking out two to run the Brewers' total to 12 for the game.

"Each guy's different," David Bell said. "They've had some great starts against us. The got deep in the game and the three guys they are running out there at the end of the game are really, really good. They are executing. Peralta, tonight, did a nice job of pitching backwards. He got ahead with his off speed pitches. He had a really good fastball, slider. He was able to mix in the change up. You have to give them credit. We're not getting a lot of pitches to hit."

The Reds wasted three good starts by their starting pitchers, who allowed just four runs over the three games. The Reds' bullpen was nicked for just one run in three games.

"Andrew did a nice job," Bell said. "He adjusted. I think early they were able to get to his fastball, maybe not his best fastball. That's what pitching is all about. He was able to go to his slider, go to his breaking ball. I think he relied pretty heavily on that tonight for a night he didn't have his best fastball. Against that team it was a really good start."

Abbott was unconcerned his efforts were wasted and took the loss like a veteran rather than the rookie he is.

"I don't think there is a lot of pressure involved (team not scoring runs behind him). I mean, these guys are hard at work," Abbott said. "This is just a tip of the cap to the Brewers pitching staff so far. Our guys are putting in the work, taking BP, doing everything they can. Sometimes you got it. Sometimes you don't but they're going to figure it out."

Bell wants his hitters to trust the process and gave all the credit to Brewer's pitching.

"You just keep working," Bell said. "There's no question, we'll break through. You really have to look at what we've been up against the last couple nights too. These guys (Brewers pitchers) are executing their pitches. You just keep working at it, keep battling. We know we'll break through."