The Milwaukee Brewers’ recent stumble against the Cincinnati Reds has thrown a wrench into their postseason plans. In a 3-1 loss on September 26, Milwaukee missed a shot at home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
This marked their fifth defeat in the last seven games. The Reds, fighting for their playoff lives, capitalized on key moments.
The Brewers’ offense sputtered late—continuing a worrying trend as October creeps closer.
Brewers Fall Short in Cincinnati Clash
The loss snapped a wild run: Milwaukee had won every one of Quinn Priester’s previous 19 starts since May. Priester, usually the rock of the rotation, gave up three runs, with two coming in a sixth inning that turned everything upside down.
The Inning That Changed Everything
That sixth inning just got away from Milwaukee. It started with a Gavin Lux double, then an outfield misplay by Jake Bauers.
An awkward bounce on an Elly De La Cruz grounder let the Reds bring in crucial runs. Priester took the hit on the stat sheet, but honestly, it felt like a team-wide lapse.
Offensive Woes Continue
The Brewers’ bats have gone cold at the worst possible time. Against Cincinnati, Milwaukee didn’t get a hit after the fourth inning.
That’s a pretty bad look for an offense that’s managed just two home runs over the past seven games.
Manager’s Concerns Over Energy
Manager Pat Murphy admitted the lineup just hasn’t had the same spark since clinching the division. “It’s a challenge,” Murphy said, pointing out how tough it is to stay locked in when you’ve already met your main regular-season goal.
Still, with playoff positioning hanging in the balance, the Brewers need to find their rhythm fast.
Individual Highlights Amid the Slump
There were some bright spots, even in a tough night. Christian Yelich, batting leadoff, doubled and scored the Brewers’ only run on a Brice Turang single.
Yelich is just one home run shy of his first 30-homer season since 2019. That’d be a huge milestone for him after a couple of rough years.
Chourio’s Record-Breaking Feat
Maybe the most eye-catching moment came from Jackson Chourio. He set a new MLB record as the youngest player ever to log two 20/20 seasons—20 homers, 20 steals.
At only 21 years old, Chourio broke the mark that Mike Trout used to hold. Even after missing most of August with a hamstring issue, he’s posted a .269 average and .766 OPS.
That’s a touch down from his rookie numbers, but it’s still a solid sophomore year.
Reds Make Wild Card Push
While Milwaukee focused on playoff seeding, Cincinnati had even more at stake. The Reds’ win pulled them even with the New York Mets for the last National League wild card spot.
They’re still alive heading into the final stretch. Talk about drama.
What’s Next for Milwaukee
The Brewers are already NL Central champions and have two regular-season games left before the playoffs start on October 4.
Their magic number to clinch the best overall record in MLB is down to one over the Philadelphia Phillies. One Brewers win or Phillies loss will lock up home-field advantage for Milwaukee throughout the postseason.
Key Takeaways from the Game
The Brewers are gearing up for October baseball. This loss stings, but it hands them a few lessons worth considering:
- Keep focus and energy high, even with the division title in the bag.
- Work on offensive consistency before the postseason kicks off.
- Make the most of what players like Chourio and Yelich bring to the table—those milestones matter.
- Stay alert on defense to prevent those innings that swing momentum the wrong way.
The road ahead? Still looks promising for Milwaukee. But let’s be honest: the margin for error shrinks in playoff baseball.
If they can get the bats going again and tighten up the defense, the Brewers could be just as dangerous in October as they’ve looked most of 2024.
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Here is the source article for this story: Milwaukee Brewers vs Cincinnati Reds score, live game updates, highlights
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