Reds miss chance to slow Crew: 'We haven't played clean'

CINCINNATI – The Brewers didn't so much barge through to beat the Reds in extra innings for their franchise-record 14th consecutive win on Saturday. Because of poor defensive plays and mistakes, Cincinnati essentially opened the door and let Milwaukee take the game.

For the second night in a row, a potential win got away and the Reds were handed a crushing 6-5 loss by the relentless first-place Brewers in 11 innings at Great American Ball Park. Because of a Mets win over the Mariners, it dropped the Reds to 1 1/2 games back for the final National League Wild Card spot with a 64-60 record.

“We haven’t played clean," manager Terry Francona said. "That was one of the points we talked about before the series because of how fast [the Brewers] are, how aggressive they are, and we haven’t done that. And it has hurt us both nights.”

On Friday, an 8-1 Reds lead in the second inning evaporated, in part, because of three errors for a 10-8 defeat. The back-to-back defeats ensured Cincinnati would lose its 13th consecutive series to Milwaukee and 17th in the last 19 going back to 2021.

A loss on Sunday would mean the Reds being swept in a series for the first time this season. They are the only club in baseball not swept in 2025.

Reds starting pitcher Zack Littell, who only arrived on July 30 in a trade from the Rays, has learned quickly how much the Brewers frustrate his new team.

“I’ve heard about it from some of the guys," said Littell, who pitched six innings and allowed one run in a no-decision. "You can feel it a little bit, especially after last night. It’s definitely intense, not to mention where we’re at in the standings and where they’re at and what we’re both trying to do.”

Reds relievers issued five walks over the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but only paid for it in the ninth. With a 2-1 lead, Reds closer Emilio Pagán opened with back-to-back walks, but had one out when Sal Frelick grounded to second base. After taking the toss from Matt McLain for the force play at second base, shortstop Elly De La Cruz rushed a throw to first base into the dirt as Frelick busted up the line. It got by Spencer Steer as Brice Turang scored the tying run.

“That’s a hard one," Francona said. "You could tell [De La Cruz] really tried to amp up because that’s probably the only way you’re going to get him. That made it really tough for Spence to try to knock it down. That was a really difficult play.”

In the top of the 10th inning with the automatic runner on second base, William Contreras hit a single into left field. As he charged in, Jake Fraley crumbled to the grass as the ball went under his glove for an error that allowed Anthony Seigler to score a go-ahead run. Fraley left with a hyperextended right knee.

Still, the Reds came back in the bottom of the 10th when Ke'Bryan Hayes hit a one-out RBI double to the wall in right field to tie the game against closer Trevor Megill.

But in the top of the 11th with Joe La Sorsa pitching, Turang led off with a bunt to move the automatic runner to third base. The reliever initially looked to make a play but got in Hayes' way as he charged from third base and made a throw that was not in time.

“That’s what we talked about," Francona said of Milwaukee's constant putting the ball in play. "They don’t strike out. They run the bases extremely well. They present a lot of problems and especially if you give them extra opportunities, it makes it more difficult.”

La Sorsa's next pitch to pinch-hitter Andruw Monasterio went for a three-run homer to left field that put the game away. It was only Monasterio's second homer of the season.

Even the Brewers' first run of the game way back in the second inning scored because of a mistake. With two outs, Noelvi Marte misjudged a Turang drive to right field when coming in on the ball before it sailed over his head for an RBI double.

“We’ve got to be a little crisper on defense," said Littell, who has a 3.06 ERA in three starts with the Reds. "We’ve got to be better as a pitching staff going out there and attacking guys. It’s really all around. Everybody in here would kind of point to themselves and say, 'We’ve got to be better'. If you want to play October baseball, it requires that type of level of play.”