Garrett Mitchell delivered a standout performance on Wednesday night, hitting a tie-breaking triple in the seventh inning to lead the Milwaukee Brewers to a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. The win propelled the Brewers to a season-high 22 games above .500 with a 53-31 record, maintaining their firm hold on the National League Central Division lead.
The game turned in the seventh inning when Reds center fielder Matt McLain, covering the position for the second time in his career, attempted a diving catch on a sinking liner hit by Andrew Vaughn. The ball eluded McLain, allowing Mitchell to capitalize on the opportunity with a triple that drove in the go-ahead run. Mitchell finished the night with four hits, marking a career-high. He later scored on a wild pitch by Cincinnati reliever Brock Burke, extending the Milwaukee lead.
Pitching performances and bullpen depth
Milwaukee’s pitching staff anchored the victory, anchored by a collective effort that limited the Reds to two runs. Starter Shane Drohan worked into the sixth inning, allowing two runs on six hits while matching his season high of seven strikeouts. Aaron Ashby earned the win, his 12th of the season, which leads the major leagues. Ashby contributed 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief after relieving Drohan with two outs in the sixth.
The Reds’ pitching staff faced challenges with control throughout the contest. Starter Andrew Abbott was credited with allowing two runs on five hits, though he struggled with command, issuing a season-high five walks. Trevor Megill closed out the ninth inning for the Brewers, securing his 12th save of the season to finalize the 4-2 result.
Scoring summary and game flow
The Brewers established an early presence in the first inning, scoring on an RBI groundout by William Contreras and a sacrifice fly by Jake Bauers. The Reds responded in the second inning when Noelvi Marte connected for his fifth home run of the season, leveling the score at 2-2. The game remained tied until the pivotal seventh-inning sequence involving Mitchell and the defensive miscue by the Reds in center field.
For the Reds, the transition of Matt McLain to center field remains a notable tactical adjustment. McLain, who has logged 77 games in the middle infield throughout his career, is currently being utilized in the outfield. The loss marks the sixth straight victory for the Brewers over the Reds this season.
Looking ahead at the series finale
The two teams are scheduled to conclude their series on Thursday with a matchup between right-handed starters. The Brewers are slated to start Jacob Misiorowski, who enters the contest with a 9-3 record and a 1.45 ERA. He will face right-hander Chase Burns, who carries a 9-1 record and a 2.00 ERA into the final game of the series.
The Brewers’ current trajectory continues to be a focal point. As the team reaches its 84th game of the season, the ability to secure wins through both situational hitting and deep bullpen usage remains a defining characteristic of their mid-season success.