Brewers extend franchise-record win streak to 14 with extra-innings 6-5 victory over Reds as Monasterio delivers clutch pinch-hit
The Milwaukee Brewers captured a franchise-record 14th consecutive win on Saturday, rallying past the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 in extra innings, thanks in large part to a pinch-hit, three-run homer from utilityman Andruw Monasterio. The victory kept Milwaukee atop the majors with a 78-44 record.
The Reds handed Milwaukee a scare with two critical defensive plays in the late innings. Up 2-1 entering the ninth, Cincinnati appeared set to close it out when Sal Frelick lined a potential double-play ball with runners on first and second and one out. A throwing error by Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz allowed a run to score, and reliever Emilio Pagán steadied the ship with a strikeout of Anthony Seigler to end the frame, sending the game to extras.
Milwaukee finally broke through in the 10th when William Contreras singled to start the inning and the inning turned on a misplay by Reds left fielder Jake Fraley, which opened the door for more runs. The Brewers wouldn’t add more hits that inning, but the miscue loomed large as Cincinnati answered with a single run in the bottom half to stay within reach.
The drama continued in the 11th, when a Brewers sacrifice bunt turned into a single after Reds reliever Joe La Sorsa inadvertently disrupted a throw from third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes. Noelvi Marte then homered in the bottom of the 11th to pull Cincinnati within a run, but Milwaukee still had life.
In the end, Monasterio delivered the decisive blow for Milwaukee, belting a pinch-hit three-run homer to complete a 6-5 win in extra innings. The Brewers’ latest triumph came on the heels of a string of big wins since their July 30 loss to the Chicago Cubs, including sweeps of the Nationals, Braves, Mets and Pirates.
Milwaukee’s record-setting win sets the stage for a potential 15th straight on Sunday, with Jose Quintana slated to face Cincinnati’s Andrew Abbott in the series finale. The Brewers’ depth and timely hitting, combined with a few costly Reds miscues, continued to showcase why Milwaukee has the best record in baseball this season.
Summary of key points
– Brewers extend win streak to 14, 6-5 in extras over Reds
– Andruw Monasterio delivers pinch-hit three-run homer for the winner
– Late Reds misplays and Brewers small-ball outcomes influence the result
– Milwaukee improves to 78-44, leading MLB
– Sunday could bring a 15th straight win with Quintana vs Abbott
Additional notes
– Monasterio’s clutch swing adds to a growing narrative of bench and role-player readiness for Milwaukee, which has leaned on depth to maintain its torrid pace.
– The Brewers’ bullpen and defense in key moments helped bridge the late-inning gaps, while the Reds’ miscues underscored how fragile margins can be in tight games against a wave of Milwaukee hitters.
– Looking ahead, the Brewers will chase a historic sweep in the series finale, a feather in the cap for a team riding momentum into the stretch run.