Sal Frelick grounded into a double play to score free runner Eric Haase with the go-ahead run as the visiting Milwaukee Brewers edged the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 in 10 innings Friday afternoon in the first game of a day-night doubleheader.
Trevor McGill (1-3) allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth to earn the win while Devin Williams pitched a scoreless 10th for his seventh save in eight chances in his return from stress fractures in his back.
Cincinnati closer Alexis Diaz (1-5) gave up a bunt single to Brice Turang to open the 10th that moved Haase to third before Frelick’s double-play grounder.
It’s been a miserable week for Diaz, the Cincinnati closer who lost Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh on a walk-off two-run homer and surrendered three runs in the ninth Thursday against Oakland while protecting a one-run lead. The Reds still won by scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth.
The game Friday afternoon was a make-up for a rained-out contest in Cincinnati on April 11.
The Reds staked starter Nick Martinez to an early 3-1 lead thanks to an RBI groundout from TJ Friedl in the first, and a solo homer from Santiago Espinal and an RBI single from Elly De La Cruz in the second inning.
Willy Adames put the Brewers on the board in the second with his 25th homer, a solo shot to center off Martinez. William Contreras cut the Cincinnati lead to one with his 19th homer, a leadoff blast to center to open a three-run fourth against Martinez.
Leading 3-1, Martinez was the beneficiary of a spectacular play from center fielder Friedl to end the third inning. After Jackson Chourio doubled off Friedl’s glove, Friedl robbed the next batter — Rhys Hoskins — of a possible game-tying homer when he went back to the same spot where he crashed into the wall and made the leaping grab.
Milwaukee starter Colin Rea was in line for his third win in as many starts before Jonathan India opened the fifth inning with a 403-foot homer just inside the left field pole. India’s 13th of the season tied the score at 4-4. The home run chased Rea from the game.
Rea was charged with four runs (three earned) on six hits in four-plus innings, striking out five, walking none and hitting a batter.