Prior to the Cincinnati Reds game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sept. 5, manager Terry Francona was asked about the balance he hopes his offense can one day attain at the plate.
The Reds have been excellent power hitters this season, ranking fourth in MLB in homers (191), but struggle in just about every other category.
“I don’t think you can just talk about it like, ‘OK, guys, let’s hit less homers.’ You kind of have who you have and you want your guys to be the best that they can at the all-around game,” Francona said. “I just think sometimes teams morph into things and as the season progresses they start to have patterns.”
The Brewers have been complete opposites. Milwaukee ranks dead last in the majors in home runs, but are also No. 2 in MLB
in batting average and on-base percentage. Look at what it’s gotten them − the best record in baseball.
At least for one night, the long ball strategy won out as the Reds slugged three solo homers in a rare 5-3 victory over the Brewers in front of 32,778 fans on a rain-delayed night at Great American Ball Park.
Trailing 1-0 in the first inning, Elly De La Cruz launched a solo home run off the batter's eye in center field to tie things up.
Tyler Stephenson led off the sixth inning with a go-ahead no-doubt shot to left field. One inning later, Matt McLain did the same thing with an opposite-field blast that put the Reds ahead for good.
The Reds got offense from other areas, too. In the bottom of the fourth inning, with the threat of rain coming in, JJ Bleday singled to put runners on the corners with two outs against Milwaukee starter Dustin May. Following a 2-hour, 22-minute rain delay, Jose Trevino tied things up with an RBI single.
In the bottom of the eighth, Eugenio Suárez ripped a one-out double off the base of the wall in left-center. On the ensuing at-bat, he scored from second on a wild pitch to give the Reds a key insurance run.
The Enquirer will update this story.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Late-night Reds ride long ball to win over Milwaukee Brewers
