Reds 2, Brewers 1: Peralta Returns, Offense Struggles

Box Score
SP: Freddy Peralta: 2 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 3 K (44 pitches, 28 strikes (63.6%)
Home Runs: Hunter Renfroe (28) 
Top 3 WPA: Peter Strzelecki (0.156), Keston Hiura (0.122), Freddy Peralta (0.107) 
Bottom 3 WPA: Matt Bush (-0.211), Willy Adames (-0.146), Victor Caratini (-0.143)

Win Probability Chart (via FanGraphs)

Peralta Returns as “Opener”   
It was quite the query heading into the game. Freddy Peralta was activated from the Injured List before the game. He has been out with shoulder inflammation. How long would he go? How long could he go? How would he look? 

Let’s start with the last question. Peralta looked really good. 

But how long did he go? The Brewers chose to use Peralta as an opener in this game. He worked just two innings, though he needed 44 pitches to get through it. He wasn’t perfect, but he got through his innings healthy and without allowing a run. He showed good stuff, with the three strikeouts, but he wasn’t completely sharp. 

How did you feel about the performance of Peralta?

Renfroe Provides More Power  
After going 4-for-5 with two homers on Saturday night, Hunter Renfroe led off the second inning with his 28th home run of the season to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. 

The Brewers were unable to do much against Reds rookie starter and former first-round pick Nick Lodolo. The southpaw gave up only that one run on just four hits. He walked one and struck out six batters. Overall, he has a 3.75 ERA on the season and certainly has a bright future. 

Journeymen Derek Law and Buck Farmer worked a scoreless inning each. Then Alexis Diaz came on and struck out Willy Adames, Christian Yelich and Hunter Renfroe in the ninth inning to slam the door. 

Key Play of the Game
You never know when the most important, most impactful play of any game will happen. Turns out, in this game, that play may have happened in the second inning. Following the Renfroe leadoff home run, Mike Brosseau singled to left field. Luis Urias flew out, and then Keston Hiura doubled Brosseau to third base. Victor Caratini struck out for the inning's second out. However, Tyrone Taylor hit what should have been a two-run single. Unfortunately, and maybe even inexplicably (though Craig Counsell tried to stand up for Hiura in his postgame interview below), the ball hit Hiura and ended the inning. 

There is no way of knowing what would happen over the rest of the game had the Brewers scored three that inning instead of just one, but in a 2-1 loss, when fighting for a playoff spot, that's a pretty huge play.

Ashby Struggles but Bullpen Provides a Mixed Bag  
Lefty Aaron Ashby came on to replace Peralta. It makes sense. Have the left-hander come in after the right-handed opener. But it didn’t go as I’m sure Craig Counsell had hoped. The rookie gave up one run on two hits, two walks and two hit batters, and maybe more important, he was only able to provide 1 2/3 innings. Fortunately, Peter Strzelecki came on and got the next four outs, two of them on strikeouts. Trevor Gott worked a perfect inning. Brad Boxberger gave up a single, but struck out two batters in a scoreless seventh inning. 

Unfortunately, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Matt Bush gave up a leadoff home run to Reds rookie Spencer Steer to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead. 

What’s Next? 
The Brewers will hopefully enjoy their final scheduled off day on Monday before playing their final nine games at home starting on Tuesday. 

Postgame Interviews

Bullpen Usage Spreadsheet