CINCINNATI — Austin Hays’ single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning gave the Cincinnati Reds a 3-2 victory Sunday over the Milwaukee Brewers, whose franchise-record winning streak ended at 14 games with the loss to a National League Central Division rival.
Milwaukee had barely pulled out the previous two games at Great American Ball Park for its longest streak ever within one season and the longest in the majors since the St. Louis Cardinals won 17 straight from Sept. 11 to Sept. 28, 2021.
This time, Spencer Steer’s sacrifice bunt in the 10th advanced designated runner TJ Friedl to third base. After intentional walks to Elly De La Cruz and Will Benson loaded the bases, Hays laced a single to down the third-base line for the walk-off hit of his MLB career.
Milwaukee, which overcame a seven-run deficit Friday and rallied to win in 14 innings Saturday, nearly came back for another win.
William Contreras hit his 13th home run of the season, a two-run shot off Reds closer Emilio Pagan, to put Milwaukee ahead 2-1 in the ninth. The Reds tied it in the bottom half when Benson reached on a fielding error by shortstop Joey Ortiz and later scored on Jose Trevino’s single.
In the top of the 10th, designated runner Andrew Vaughn was thrown out at third base trying to advance on Blake Perkins’ bunt.
The MLB-leading Brewers fell to 53-17 in their past 70 games.
The game was scoreless through six innings with Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott and Brewers lefty Jose Quintana allowing a combined six hits with 11 strikeouts.
Cincinnati scored the game’s first run when Hays led off the seventh with a double and scored on Trevino’s sacrifice fly to the wall in center.
Graham Ashcraft (7-4) earned the win on the mound for Cincinnati. Grant Anderson (2-4) took the loss.
The Reds are the only MLB team that has not been swept in a series this season. Their 40 series without a sweep is the longest in franchise history, eclipsing the 1970 team that went 32 straight series. Sunday marked the seventh time the Reds have won the final game of a series this year to avoid being swept.