Reds vs Brewers Recap: Chourio, Bauers power Milwaukee to 7-2 win

The Reds rolled into Miller Park ready to bounce back after losing the night before. Cincinnati's bats were hungry for a win. Right away, Sal Stewart showed up to make noise. On Brandon Sproat's second pitch—a 96-mile-per-hour sinker that flew straight down the middle—Stewart connected hard. The ball rocketed into the air, climbed higher and higher, then sailed over the right field wall. Stewart pumped his fist as he rounded the bases. Just like that, the Reds led 1-0. The Brewers answered fast. In the second inning, Garrett Mitchell smacked a single to right field. Jake Bauers scored easily from third base. The game was tied 1-1. Both teams were swinging hot bats early on a summer night in Milwaukee.

The Brewers' bats woke up in the fourth inning and it was scary for Cincinnati. Sal Frelick singled to left field. William Contreras raced home. The score was 1-2 now. Then things got wild. Joey Ortiz stepped up and smacked a single to right field. Two runs scored on that hit—Bauers and Mitchell both came flying across the plate. It was 1-4 Brewers. Jackson Chourio wasn't done. He singled to left and Frelick scored. The Brewers were rolling. One inning later, Jake Bauers launched a massive home run into center field—425 feet of pure power. The ball disappeared into the crowd. Milwaukee led 1-6. Cincinnati's pitcher Rhett Lowder was struggling badly. The Reds needed to find a way to stop the bleeding.

Cincinnati refused to quit. In the sixth inning, Sal Stewart doubled to right field and Elly De La Cruz scored from second base. The Reds cut it to 2-6. But it wasn't enough. The Brewers added another run in the eighth when Jackson Chourio crushed a home run to left center—404 feet of absolute power. The ball soared into the night sky and landed deep in the bleachers. That made it 2-7 Brewers. The Reds tried to rally in their final chances but couldn't get the big hit they needed. When the final out came, Milwaukee had won 7-2. The Brewers improved to 51-31. The Reds fell to 39-44. Milwaukee stayed strong at home. Cincinnati's pitching struggles continued. The Reds now sat five games back in the division, looking for answers.