MILWAUKEE, WI – An RBI single by Jackie Bradley Jr. to score Jace Peterson was all the offense the Milwaukee Brewers could muscle in a 3-1 loss to Cincinnati at American Family Field on Sunday, closing out the first half of the 2021 regular season.
And for the second day in a row, it was All-Star closer Josh Hader getting tagged with a loss after allowing a two-RBI single to Nick Castellanos that broke a 1-1 tie in the 9th inning. Milwaukee then failed to get a runner on base in the bottom of the 9th.
The win moves Cincinnati to within four games of the Brewers in the NL Central race going into the All-Star break. In an MLB schedule oddity, the same two teams will open the second half of the season with a three-game series in Cincinnati beginning Friday, July 16th.
Brandon Woodruff went six innings and scattered nine hits but received a no-decision. Brad Boxberger and Devin Williams held down the Reds offense before Hader was brought on for the 9th.
The loss drops Milwaukee to 47-40 and gave the Reds a 3-1 series win.
Woodruff will now be removed from Tuesday’s National League All-Star rosters because he pitched on the Sunday before the game. But other Brewers will partake in the event. Corbin Burnes, Josh Hader, Omar Narvaez and Freddy Peralta are this year’s All-Stars.
