Brewers bash beleaguered bullpen, Reds fall 7-2 to lose series The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of

the GameJoey Votto had cobbled together some walkin’ since returning to the Cincinnati Reds from the IL with a busted thumb, but he’d yet to really bash one. That changed on Thursday, however, as Votto parked the 301st dinger of his career into the GABP stands.As it turns out, that was both an early highlight and one of the very few on the day as a whole for the Reds, however, who limped to another loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, this time one that resulted in a series loss.Key PlaysFor the second consecutive game, Luis Urias was plunked as the games opening batter. For the second consecutive game, that haunted Reds pitching, as a walk and a single later he scooted home to score the game’s initial run. Reds trailed early, 1-0.Votto got that run back in the Bottom of the 2nd, however, turning around a Freddy Peralta meatwad for a 400-foot solo homer into the RF seats. Game tied, 1-1.The Reds got a bit of good fortune when play resumed post-rain in the Bottom of the 5th, as Kyle Farmer reached on an infield single and moved to 2B on a sac-bunt by Castillo. Jesse Winker then poked a ribbie-single into LF, and the Reds held a 2-1 lead.Walks, as they are wont to do, haunt. Such was the case for Castillo in the Top of the 6th, as he walked the a pair of batters he faced before battling to K Avisail Garcia for the inning’s second out. That was his final batter, though, and manager David Bell turned to Lucas Sims to put out the fire. Sims’ hose was dry, though, and he not only allowed both inherited runners to score, he allowed a run of his own, too. Reds trailed, 4-2.The Reds had a chance to turn a 5-4-3 double play in the Top of the 7th that would’ve ended the inning Amir Garrett Jersey, but Jonathan India’s turn at 2B went wide of Votto at 1B, and Luis Urias ended up on 2B with 2-out as a result. That doomed, of course, because that’s just how this works when you’re a Reds fan - Daniel Vogelbach spanked a Sean Doolittle meatball for a 2-run jack into the RF seats, and the Reds were buried, 6-2.Another Reds reliever was on for the Top of the 8th. The Brewers scored then, too. Reds trailed, 7-2, which is how this one wrapped.Tony GraphaninoSource: FanGraphsOther NotesA 37 minute rain delay pressed pause on this one after the end of the 4th inning. That was enough for the Brewers to call time on Freddy Peralta’s day https://www.crfanshop.com/lee-may-jersey, though Luis Castillo returned to the mound for the Reds.Speaking of Castillo, he was largely excellent until the 6th inning became his undoing. Yes, he was bitten by the Reds’ league-worst strand rate when both inherited runners scored to tag his ledger, but you can’t ignore the fact that he walked both guys in the first place. His final line, therefore, is a bit rougher than you’d like to see - 5 Sonny Gray Jersey.2 IP, 1 H, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K on 96 pitches.An entire series, at home, against the division leaders, and Tejay Antone never pitched once. I can’t tell you how often the list of why the hell did theys is longer than the oh, that makes senses with this franchise, y’all.The Reds will welcome the Colorado Rockies to town tomorrow, who are positively abysmal on the road. Seriously. They’re 5-23 outside of Coors Field, which is far and away the single worst road record in all of baseball, if not perhaps the history of the game. Look that up.Anyway, the Reds have a buttered biscuit on their plate to devour this weekend, and I sure as hell hope they do so. Friday’s matchup will feature Tyler Mahle on the mound with some arm of Bud Black’s choosing getting the nod for Colorado. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM ET, and get yer butts to the ballpark to see some bashing.Tunes.