It was bad enough the Cincinnati Reds lost All-Star outfielder Nick Castellanos to an injury after he was hit by a pitch on his right wrist in the third inning Friday.
Then the Reds saw their three-run lead disappear and turn into a blowout loss.
Everything went from bad to worse to disastrous as the Reds dropped their series opener against the Milwaukee Brewers with an 11-6 loss at Great American Ball Park. The Reds fell five games behind the Brewers in the National League Central standings.
There are 71 games remaining in the Reds’ schedule, but these games are as important as they come. The Reds have only five more games left in their season against the first-place Brewers, a direct opportunity to improve their playoff hopes.
Milwaukee took its first lead in the sixth inning. After Tyler Mahle issued a one-out walk to Jace Peterson, Luis Urías followed with an RBI double to left field. That was the end of Mahle’s night and Amir Garrett emerged from the bullpen with a one-run lead.
Garrett’s first batter, Jackie Bradley Jr., hit a chopper to second base. Jonathan India misplayed it, which allowed Urías to score the game-tying run on an error.
Two batters later, Kolten Wong lined a go-ahead, RBI single through the left side of the infield. Bradley had already moved into scoring position, stealing second against the left-hander Garrett, and easily scored the go-ahead run.
It was a deflating half-inning for the GABP crowd of 34,844.
By the eighth inning, the mood went from deflated to disappointed. Brewers shortstop Willy Adames hit a two-run double. One run scored when Ryan Hendrix struck out Omar Narváez with two outs, but the pitch skipped past catcher Tucker Barnhart and rolled into the camera well. Another run scored two pitches later because of another wild pitch.
The Brewers scored five runs in the eighth inning – Urías started the rally with a solo homer into the first row of seats in left field – which prevented them from needing to use relievers Devin Williams and Josh Hader.
Mahle surrendered six hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out eight. Mahle was solid until the fifth inning, but he allowed four of the final seven batters he faced to reach base. That included a two-run homer from Adames, which dropped in the first row of seats in right field.
Mahle owns a 6.37 ERA in eight home starts compared to a 2.26 ERA in 11 outings on the road.
The Reds had a 4-1 lead in the third inning after Eugenio Suárez laced a two-run double off the left-field wall. Tyler Naquin, who reached on a single, was sprinting a few feet behind Castellanos (hit by pitch) and slid ahead of a throw to the plate.
Suárez could be key to the Reds’ offense in the second half of the season, especially if Castellanos misses extended time with his injury. Suárez reached base in each of his first three plate appearances with his double and two walks.
The power has been there for Suárez with 18 homers and 47 RBI, but he’s still batting below .180.
The Reds scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning with only one hit. Jonathan India was hit by a pitch on Adrian Houser’s fifth pitch of the evening and Joey Votto drew a walk. Tyler Naquin cleared the basepaths with a two-run, two-out double down the right-field line, clobbering a low changeup.
They entered Friday’s game with a 32-11 record when scoring the game’s first run.
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