It wasn’t a pretty win, but the Reds got it done, surviving a late comeback by the Milwaukee Brewers to get the 4-3 victory on
Tuesday night at American Family Field.
The game was in a stalemate early on, but the Reds were able to strike first on RBI singles by Jonathan India and Joey Votto in the top of the 4th to make it a 2-0 Cincinnati lead.
The Reds extended it to a 4-0 advantage in the top of the 9th on a Will Benson 2-run home run to center.
Milwaukee would not go away quietly in the bottom of the 9th, as Christian Yelich made it a one-run game with a 2-out, 3-run blast off of Cincinnati reliever Daniel Duarte.
Reds closer Alexis Diaz entered the game soon after, giving up an infield single to William Contreras and allowing Willy Adames to reach first on a hit-by-pitch. Diaz would stop the Brewers’ comeback attempt short by forcing Andruw Monasterio to fly out to center, giving the closer his 30th save of the season and the Reds a 4-3 victory.
Andrew Abbott had earned the win in a great outing on the mound, striking out 9 while allowing 0 runs on 7 hits.
With the win, the Reds are now just 1/2 a game back of Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central.
The series finale is this afternoon. Coverage on 103.9 WRBI begins at 1:40.