Dateline: Cincinnati
Brandon Sproat held the Reds hitless until the sixth innings and the Milwaukee Brewers followed with scoreless baseball for a 2-0 win over the Reds to clinch the series.
Brandon Woodruff struck out 10 Reds last night.
The Brewers have nine straight series wins at Great American Ball Park.
There was one base runner in the first three innings. Blake Perkins reached on catcher's interference but he was erased on a double play.
Jackson Churio singled off Nick Lodolo's wrist to open the fourth. Terry Francona and the trainer came out to look at the left hander. He threw some warm up pitches and stayed in the game. Brice Turang singled off the glove of Edwin Arroyo, who was in haste to turn a double play. It was scored a hit. Lodolo struck out William Contreras but walked Andrew Vaughn to load the bases. He struck out Jake Bauers on a 3-2 pitch that survived Bauer's challenge. Lodolo fell behind Gary Sanchez 3-0 but got him on a fly out to center field to keep the game scoreless.
JJ Bleday was the first Reds' base runner when he was hit by a pitch with two out.
Julian Garcia made his Major League debut when he came out to pitch the fifth inning.
Lodolo finished four innings of scoreless baseball. He allowed two hits and a walk. He struck out six. He left the game with a left wrist contusion.
"He got hit right here (on the wrist) on his pitching hand. Before I left the mound it was already turning black and blue," Terry Francona said. "Give him credit. He stayed in and wanted to stay in more. I just didn't feel. He probably had just one inning left anyway because his pitch count was pretty elevates. He was getting stiff as he sat through our side of the inning. If he went out and hurt his shoulder or something like that, I'd have really had a tough time."
"He's ok. Sean McQueeney thinks if they can keep the swelling out of there and it doesn't show up tomorrow. It should be ok for his next start but we'll certainly keep our eyes on it."
"It felt numb," Lodolo said. "I thought it was serious. I went to pick up the ball and my arm was totally numb. I've never been hit like that in the wrist. I wanted to keep going for sure but I know where he was coming from. He was pretty adamant. I'm glad I got to finish the inning at least."
Garcia pitched a scoreless fifth inning. He got the first two outs in the sixth but walked Vaughn. Terry Francona brought in left hander Caleb Ferguson to pitch to left handed hitting Bauers. He his a high chop over the head of Sal Stewart at first base. The ball got lost in the corner as Vaughn scored the first run of the game and Bauers went to third with a triple.
It made Garcia the losing pitcher but it didn't tarnish the thrill of finally pitching in the big leagues against the odds at the age of 31.
"It was surreal, man," Garcia said after the game. "I can't even put words to it. I worked hard to get to this point. It was like a video game. It wasn't the result I wanted to lose the game but It was awesome to be out there and do what I did."
He pitched 1 2/3 innings and left the game with a scoreless tie. The triple off Ferguson was unfortunate.
"I can't see down into that corner," Terry Francona said. "If he comes up with it cleanly, I don't think the runner scores."
Even in the midst of an important game. The fans cheered and his teammates demonstrated their admiration for someone who spent years in the bushes to finally get a chance.
"I think when I was warming up it kind of hit me that I was going out there. I felt normal, like I was back in Louisville, when I got to the mound," Garcia said. "The guys have been absolutely welcoming since I got here and when I came out of the game they were high fiveing me. Even the veteran guys. It's been unbelievable."
Garcia will remember his father Joe and his whistle that he could hear from the field.
"I will remember looking up and seeing a standing ovation walking off the mound," Garcia said. "I took a deep breath, just looking up to see a couple of people clapping. My dad was here. I could hear his voice. He has a very unique voice and a whistle that he's always done since I was a young kid. I meant the world to hear that."
Jose Trevino broke up Sproat's no hitter with a single to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Arroyo forced Trevino at second. Arroyo was caught stealing second.
Sproat, the Brewers' starter allowed just one hit ih six innings. He hit a batter but walked none. He struck out 10.
The Brewers added a run in the eighth inning off Chase Petty. Turang and Contreras grounded singles through the infield. Vaughn delivered Turang with a sacrifice fly.
The Reds are now 2-15 in games against National League Central opponents and fall 11 and a half games behind the first place Brewers. The midway point of the season will be Saturday when the Reds play the second game of the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Reds were 40-38 last season after 78 games. Three games better than they are now at 37-41.
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