By Hal McCoy
If only the Cincinnati Reds could play every game that is eventually decided by two or fewer runs.
With a 5-3 win over the Milwaukee Brewers in rain-drenched Great American Ball Park Saturday night, the Reds are 42-24 in games decided by two or fewer runs.
That’s a .636 winning percentage.
The Brewers have the best overall record in baseball at 88-55, a .592 winning percentage.
The Reds, though, are satisfied with their win over the Brewers, only their second against the Brew Crew this season against seven losses.
And they are 19-48 at home against Milwaukee in GABP since 2018.
Even when they do beat the Brewers, it is a hold-your-breath, heart-pounding, nerve-shattering event.
The Reds led, 5-3, entering the ninth and, of course, the Brewers came out battling against closer Emilio Pagan.
Pagan struk out the first batter, but Gary Sanchez doubled, pinch-hitter Jake Bauers walked and Jackson Chourio singled.
That loaded the bases with one out with the tying runs on third and second and the go-ahead run on first.
Rookie Luis Lara popped up for the second out and that brought ever-dangerous William Contreras to the plate, a guy who homered in the first inning.
And here was the at bat sequence: Pagan slipped two strikes past him. Umpire Charlie Ramos called the next pitch a ball and Reds catcher Jose Trevino challenged. Ball confirmed and it was 1-2.
Contreras fouled the next pitch. Pagan started his windup for pitch No. 5, but Contreras stepped out of the box for a time out. Then Contreras fouled off the next two.
On pitch No. 7 Contreras lofted a weak fly ball to center field and the game was over — the Reds had the win and Pagan had his 21st save.
“It’s a blast, man,” Pagan said about his battle with Contreras. “I dreamed my whole life of being in those situations.
“Obviously, they know us very well and we know them very well,” he added. “I definitely don’t want to be in a bases loaded situation with Contreras up there. He’s been a great player for a long time.
“He was kinda fighting me on the fastball and I didn’t want to make a mistake on something soft over the plate,” he said. “I was able to get a fastball just above his barrel.”
Reds manager Tito Francona admitted his nerves were jangling but knew the heart and guts inside Pagan.
“One. . .I’m glad it’s Pagan,” he said. “Because I know as much anxiety as I have, he’s OK. It’s not always gonna work out, but he won’t lose because of things like that. He’ll make pitches.”
It was a long, long night because two back-to-back storms caused a 2-hour, 20-minute delay in the fourth inning.
The Brewers led, 2-1, in the bottom of the fourth when JJ Bleday singled and took third on Eugenio Suarez’s two-out single.
Then. . .deluge. Tarp on.
When play finally resumed, Milwaukee relief pitcher DL Hall gave up a line drive single to right field by Jose Trevino to tie it, 2-2.
“I thought Trevino’s at bat was pretty special because you don’t see a guy have a two-hour at bat then get a hit. That’s pretty impressive” said Francona.
The Reds had a thing this night about saying hello to Milwaukee relief pitchers.
Trevivon was Hall’s first batter.
It was still 2-2 when JoJo Romero arrived to pitch the sixth and his first assignment was Tyler Stephenson. He homered.
The Brewers tied it, 3-3, in the top of the seventh against Tony Santillan.
And it was 3-3 when Aaron Ashby arrived to pitch the seventh and his first assignement was Matt McLain. McLain homered.
That was the winning run, but the Reds were gifted an insurance run in the eighth. Eugenio Suarez spent a large hunk of the delay standing in the rain signing autographs for kids.
Then he doubled leading off the eighth. Pitcher Grant Arnold unleashed a wild pitch and catcher Gary Sanchez couldn’t find it.
Suarez, who has trouble chasing down a bus, alertly scored all the way from second to make it 5-3.
Francona talked glowingly of McLain, despite his .190 batting average.
“He’s been battling,” he said. “It’s good to see him grinding. His batting average isn’t where we want it to be, but he has chipped in with some home runs (15) , he plays flawles defense, he is a very good baserunner.
“You can’t quit on guys. That just doen’t work if you do that too often. You better be damn sure,” he added.
It was Elly De La Cruz bobblehead night and he rewarded the fans not only with his doll dressed in the Reds Saturday red uniforms but with a first-inning 438-foot home run to dead center.
He also had a single and has five hits in the two games.
Andrew Abbott started the game and gave up two runs (one earned) and three hits over four innings, but couldn’t return after the rain delay.
Julian Garcia, Tejay Antone, Tony Santillan, Brock Burke and Emilio Pagan each pitched an inning and held the Brewers to one run, five hits and pitched around four walks.
The series is tied 1-1 and the finale is Sunday afternoon. With a win, the Reds take the series and stop Milwaukee’s streak of winning seven straight series in Great American Ball Park.