Reds Rally to Beat Brewers 9-7 Despite Hunter Greene’s Struggles

The Cincinnati Reds showcased their offensive prowess once again in Cactus League play, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers 9-7 in a thrilling contest at American Family Field. This matchup marked the first time in a long while that fans could watch the Reds on television, adding an extra layer of excitement to the game.

Matt McLain kicked things off for the Reds, launching a solo home run in the first inning as part of a stellar 2-for-3 performance that included two runs scored. Elly De La Cruz continued to impress, hitting another double—his hits this spring have all been extra-base knocks. Sal Stewart also contributed with a single, a stolen base, and a run scored while playing third base.

Michael Chavis, a non-roster invitee, made his presence felt by hitting a homer, while Dane Myers had a productive day at the plate with two hits and three RBIs, showcasing his versatility as a right-handed hitting option in the outfield. Blake Dunn also drove in three runs and crossed the plate himself, further solidifying his role in the lineup.

On the pitching side, the Reds’ bullpen saw solid performances from offseason acquisitions Pierce Johnson and Caleb Ferguson, both of whom tossed scoreless innings, even if they weren’t entirely flawless. Lyon Richardson, despite allowing another run (a trend this spring), managed to earn the win, a quirky aspect of spring training.

Christian Encarnacion-Strand made his long-awaited spring debut after recovering from hamstring issues, but his performance was limited to designated hitting duties, where he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Fans are hoping for a turnaround for Encarnacion-Strand as the spring progresses.

Hunter Greene faced a challenging outing in his spring debut, failing to retire a single batter in the first inning before being pulled. He returned for the second inning, where he showed improvement, but ultimately finished with four earned runs on five hits and a walk, without recording a strikeout. Despite the rough outing, his velocity was impressive, consistently hitting triple digits. It appeared to be a case of early-season rust rather than any underlying issues.

The Reds will continue their road trip in central Arizona, facing the Oakland Athletics at Hohokam Stadium on Sunday. Andrew Abbott is slated to take the mound, with first pitch set for 3:05 PM ET. Although there won’t be any television coverage, fans can catch the action on 700 WLW.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.