Cincinnati Reds center fielder Scott Heineman tracked the ball off the bat from center field in the top of the seventh inning. After Milwaukee Brewers pinch-hitter Daniel Robertson hit a line drive to center, Heineman followed the ball to the center field fence and leapt at the perfect time to rob the home run.
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But the ball landed just beyond the wall and just over Heineman’s glove.
On Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Reds bullpen was credited with the loss for just the fifth time in 44 games this season. Heath Hembree allowed a homer to Robertson that gave the Brewers a one-run lead, and Milwaukee beat Cincinnati, 4-3.
Even though the Reds entered Saturday’s game with the fourth highest bullpen ERA in MLB, the bullpen usually hasn’t been the reason the Reds lost. The bullpen was only responsible for four of the Reds 23 losses, which ranked as the second fewest bullpen losses in MLB.
On Saturday against the Brewers, Hembree took his first loss of the season.
Starting pitcher Sonny Gray allowed three runs in six innings, and he is still looking for his first win of 2021.
Entering Saturday’s game, Gray was the only starting pitcher in MLB with at least seven starts, an ERA below 6.00 and zero wins this season. With a 3.82 ERA entering the game, Gray had pitched well enough to win a few games this season.
Yet again, Gray was close to getting a win on Saturday but came away with a no-decision.
Entering the sixth inning, the Reds had a 2-1 lead and Gray had thrown only 70 pitches. Gray allowed a double and two walks as the Brewers loaded the bases. During the inning, there was a 12 minute umpire delay after home plate umpire Ron Kulpa was hit by a pitch.
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Gray threw a few warmup pitches to stay fresh during the delay. But the following batter, Brewers left fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., hit a hard ground ball at Reds first baseman Alex Blandino. The ball hit off Blandino’s glove and rolled past first base as the Brewers scored two runners and took the lead.
Milwaukee had a one-run lead, but Gray still pitched well enough for the Reds to come back.
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Reds left fielder Jesse Winker scored the first run of the game with a home run, his fourth in the last two days. In the sixth inning, right fielder Nick Castellanos doubled, and catcher Tyler Stephenson drove Castellanos in to tie the game at three runs.
Robertson homered off Hembree during the Brewers’ next turn at the plate. After Milwaukee took a 4-3 lead in the seventh, 2020 NL Rookie of the Year Devin Williams and closer Josh Hader protected Milwaukee’s one-run lead.
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