Joey Ortiz’s Late Blast Fuels Brewers’ 5-3 Comeback Victory Over Reds

In a thrilling finish at the ballpark, the Milwaukee Brewers overcame a slow start to secure a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, thanks in large part to a late-game home run from Joey Ortiz. Despite leaving eight runners on base and struggling with runners in scoring position, the Brewers displayed resilience, powered by timely blasts from Ortiz and Brice Turang, alongside solid pitching efforts from Robert Gasser and the bullpen.

Gasser began the night on a high note, striking out both Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart. However, the Reds managed to keep the inning alive with a single from Spencer Steer, followed by a walk to cleanup hitter JJ Bleday. The Reds capitalized on this opportunity; Dane Myers hit a double down the left field line, bringing Steer home and advancing Bleday to third. Gasser managed to limit the damage by freezing Noelvi Marte with a called third strike, ending the inning.

It wasn’t until the fifth inning that Cincinnati added to their lead. De La Cruz turned on a 90 mph fastball, sending it soaring over the left-center fence for his thirteenth home run of the season. The Brewers struggled offensively, managing only one hit—a double from Sal Frelick—in the first five innings. Yet, they consistently pressured Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo, who, though not as sharp as in his previous outing, walked four batters and hit William Contreras.

Milwaukee’s breakthrough finally came in the sixth against reliever Chase Petty. After Andrew Vaughn doubled and Christian Yelich walked, Jake Bauers lined a single to right, scoring Vaughn and giving the Brewers their first run of the night. Frelick then earned a walk, leading to a wild pitch that allowed Yelich to score from third, narrowing Cincinnati’s lead to 3-2.

The seventh inning saw Chad Patrick, who relieved Gasser, navigate through a couple of baserunners to keep the Reds scoreless. With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Brice Turang launched a towering home run to center field, leveling the score at 3-3.

As the game remained tied, Aaron Ashby entered in the eighth, continuing the trend of strong relief pitching. He navigated around an infield single and a throwing error, keeping the Reds off the board. The Brewers then seized their moment in the bottom of the eighth. After Bauers flew out, Frelick singled, and David Hamilton bunted him over to second, setting the stage for Ortiz.

Reds manager Terry Francona opted for a right-handed matchup, bringing in Tejay Antone to face Ortiz, who had previously struck out with runners on the corners. However, Ortiz made no mistake this time, launching a 412-foot two-run homer over the center-field wall, marking his second of the season and giving the Brewers a crucial lead.

In the ninth, Trevor Megill closed the door, retiring the Reds in order and sealing the victory with a strikeout of De La Cruz. Ashby secured his 11th win of the season as the Brewers improved to 20 games over .500. While the team faced challenges with runners in scoring position, their ability to come through in clutch moments showcased their fighting spirit.

With this win, the Brewers look to continue their momentum in the second game of the four-game series against the Reds, scheduled for 6:40 p.m. tomorrow. Brandon Sproat will take the mound against Rhett Lowder, who holds a 3-5 record with a 4.81 ERA.

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