MLB Game Preview -
Cincinnati at MilwaukeeSun Jun 23, 2019 2:10 PM EDT
The Milwaukee Brewers remain the only club to figure out Cincinnati Reds ace Luis Castillo.
The Brew Crew snapped their five-game losing skid on Saturday afternoon by rallying from a first-inning, three-run deficit and beating Cincinnati 6-5, which also ended the Reds' season-best six-game winning streak.
And Milwaukee accomplished the feat against Castillo, who has had every team's number this season except Cincinnati's National League Central rival from Wisconsin.
Down 3-0, the Brewers produced two of their five hits on the day in the first inning, scoring four times -- thanks in part to Castillo's wildness and untimely errors by shortstop Jose Iglesias.
After leadoff hitter Yasmani Grandal homered, Milwaukee loaded the bases with a pair of walks sandwiched around Mike Moustakas' double.
Iglesias then misplayed a one-out grounder, and made his second error on the play when he threw wildly to first base. After the play ended, the Brewers had tied the game 3-3.
Travis Shaw's RBI groundout put the Brewers out front, reviving the home team.
Milwaukee's bullpen later turned in 4 1/3 innings of hitless relief, retiring 13 straight to end the game, as the club pulled to within a half-game of the first-place Chicago Cubs.
Manager Craig Counsell lauded his relief corps -- "The bullpen delivered," he said -- but added that patience at the plate in the first inning was key to the comeback victory.
"The guy's a tough customer," Counsell said of Castillo, who walked five, fell to 7-2 and has two losses and one no-decision in three starts against the Brewers this season. "You've to be good with balls and strikes against him. That's the key.
"You're not going to rack up a lot of hits, but you can get on base by the walk."
The series concludes at Miller Park on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:10 ET.
Brandon Woodruff (8-2, 4.02) will make his first start this season against Cincinnati and is 1-1 with an 8.10 ERA in three appearances (one start) against the Reds in his career.
Cincinnati's Derek Dietrich set a major league record on Saturday when he became the first player to be hit by a pitch six times in a series.
The lefty-swinging Dietrich, who has a career-high 18 home runs, was hit twice Thursday, three times Friday and again Saturday.
After Junior Guerra plunked him in the seventh inning on Friday, Dietrich started toward first for a third time as a hit batsman and had a few words for the pitcher, and both benches were warned.
"It's part of the game," said Dietrich, who has been hit a league-high 15 times and 108 times in his career. "I've never really shied away from it. Guys try to get out of the way. I don't try to get out of the way.
"I hold my ground. I stay in the box."
The Reds will close the series by sending out Anthony DeSclafani (4-3, 4.22) for his 15th start of the season.
The right-hander has made one start against Milwaukee this season, working five innings on April 2 in his first outing of 2019. He allowed one run and three hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in a no-decision in a game the Brewers won 4-3.
DeSclafani, 29, has faced Milwaukee nine times -- eight of them starts -- during his career and compiled a 3-3 mark with a 4.59 ERA.
--Field Level Media
Team Record Comparison
Team | Standings | GB | W-L | Aw/Hm | Stk | L10 |
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Cincinnati | ||||||
Milwaukee |
Scheduled Starting Pitchers
Anthony DeSclafani - MIN | ||||
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Matchup | ||||
Season | ||||
vs. Opp | Has not pitched vs. Milwaukee | |||
Brandon Woodruff - MIL | ||||
Matchup | ||||
Season | ||||
vs. Opp | Has not pitched vs. Cincinnati |
Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)
Injury Report
View Complete Injury Report: Cincinnati Milwaukee