Dateline: Cincinnati
Elly De La Cruz as the DH was in position to be a hero while the Milwaukee Brewers were in the midst of a three run rally in the Reds 12-8 win over the first place Milwaukee Brewers.
Jake Bauers homered for the first hit, his team-leading 24th.
A helpless bird landed in the middle of the first base line. Reds starter Brady Singer tried to shoo it, the ball boy unsuccessfully tried to capture it in his cap. De La Cruz popped out of the dugout and picked up the bird with his bare hands.
Then as the Brewers were now within a run, De La Cruz said, “bye bye birdie” with his 23rd home run of the season with a man on in the bottom of the inning.
The 6-3 margin didn’t last long as Singer issued six walks. The Brewers knotted the game in the fifth with three runs, that started with a pair of two out walks to Brewers hitters. Garret Mitchell singled and Brice Turang hit a game tying double before Terry Francona could get someone ready in the bullpen.
Singer got a line out from Pratt to end the inning.
It was Elly De La to the rescue again with a bases loaded two run double off Antonio Senzetels in the bottom of the inning to allow Singer to qualify for a win
Luis Mey pitched a scoreless sixth. Brock Burke extended his career high with his 71st appearance in a scoreless seventh.
Graham Ashcraft fresh off the injured list kicked off some rust with his first appearance since May 25. He walked the first two batters he faced then gave up a run scoring single to Bo Naylor in his first Brewers’ appearance to cut the lead to 9-7. Ashcraft struck out Christian Yelich with the tying run on deck to preserve the lead.
The Reds seemingly put the game away with three runs in the bottom of the eighth.
Matt McLain walked. Rookies Juan Brito and Hector Rodriguez followed with their third hits. Sal Stewart, who drove in his MLB leading 107th run walked to load the bases. Dane Myers, who reached base a career high four times hit a ball hard that eluded David Hamilton in what was scored an error.
That presumably gave Francona a chance to save closer Emilio Pagan.
But troubled brewed in the ninth.
Pierce Johnson got a lead off fly out by Jackson Chourio but walked Bauers and Andrew Vaughn. Turang singled to drive in his third run. Pratt hit a ground ball to McLain at short. Britt’s relay was ruled in time to double Pratt but the Brewers challenged and won.
Now Francona had to summon Pagan, who got pinch hitter Gary Sanchez to earn his 22nd save.
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