The Brewers are coming back to earth and the Reds are coming back to life.
Todd Frazier’s double drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning on Sunday as Cincinnati outlasted Milwaukee, 4-3, at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds (15-16) took three of four in the series and pulled within 5 1/2 games of the Brewers (21-11), who came to Cincinnati with baseball’s best record and had not lost a road series all season.
“I know it’s early, but it’s important we don’t let [the Brewers] get so far ahead that it becomes an insurmountable climb,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “Eventually it’s not going to be ‘early in the season.’ We need to send a message that we’re in this thing.”
The Reds delivered that message in the bottom of the 10th on Sunday.
Milwaukee reliever Tyler Thornburg (3-1) walked Chris Heisey on four two-out pitches to set up the decisive scenario.
“I’m not necessarily known for my eagle eye at the plate,” said Heisey, who has 65 career walks and 280 strikeouts. “That walk turned out to be a big one.”
Frazier got ahead in the count 2-0 before sending a liner skipping to the left-field corner. Milwaukee outfielder Khris Davis played the ball off the wall as Heisey raced around the bases and was waved home by Reds third base coach Steve Smith.
“Once it hit the wall, I was waving [Heisey] around like I was the third base coach,” Frazier said.
Smith relayed Frazier’s call and Heisey arrived at home plate well ahead of the throw.
“On a ball in the gap or down the line with two out, I was expecting to be sent in that situation,” Heisey said.
The Reds continue to right the ship after a 3-8 start and can look forward to reinforcements. All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman is scheduled to return from the disabled list this week.
“Our best ball is ahead of us,” said relief pitcher Sam LeCure (1-1), who struck out Milwaukee’s Carlos Gomez with runners at second and third in the top of the 10th. “This is a nice springboard, a chance to get on a roll.”
Brandon Phillips finally got the Reds on a roll in the eighth inning, tying the score at 3 with a solo home run.
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