The Milwaukee Brewers delivered a performance for the ages on Friday night in Cincinnati, storming back from a daunting seven-run deficit to topple the Reds 10-8 and tie their franchise record with a 13th consecutive victory. The improbable rally was powered by Christian Yelich, who put on a show with two home runs among his four hits and drove in five runs, etching his name into the annals of Brewers lore.
Trailing 8-1 after just two innings, the Brewers looked dead in the water. Cincinnati fans at Great American Ball Park could hardly believe their eyes as the Reds battered Milwaukee’s rookie starter Jacob Misiorowski, who was making his first start since July 28 after a stint on the injured list. Misiorowski was charged with five runs on four hits and three walks in just 1 1/3 innings, a rough outing that had the Brewers’ bullpen scrambling early. “It was a tough one coming back from the IL, but the guys picked me up,” Misiorowski would later reflect in the dugout, clearly relieved the team had his back.
The Reds pounced in the second inning. Misiorowski loaded the bases with one out, hitting a batter and walking two before walking Spencer Steer to force in a run. Elly De La Cruz then ripped a two-run double off DL Hall to put Cincinnati up 4-1. Four straight singles followed, ballooning the lead to 8-1 and sending the home crowd into a frenzy. At that point, it looked like the Brewers’ magical run might finally be coming to an end.
But baseball has a way of flipping the script, and this Brewers squad, winners of 28 of their last 32 games, simply refused to quit. Christian Yelich got the comeback started with a solo homer leading off the second inning against Nick Martinez—Milwaukee’s first run of the night. Yelich wasn’t done. In the third, he laced an RBI double, and then Andrew Vaughn stepped to the plate and blasted his 14th homer of the season, a three-run shot that electrified the visiting dugout. Brice Turang followed with an RBI double, suddenly slicing the deficit to 8-6 and silencing the Cincinnati faithful.
The Brewers’ offense kept rolling in the fourth. With two runners on, Yelich delivered again, lining a two-run single that tied the game at 8-all. Just like that, the seven-run hole had vanished, and the momentum had swung entirely in Milwaukee’s favor. “We just kept believing,” Yelich said after the game, his jersey still streaked with dirt. “No one in that dugout ever thought we were out of it.”
Yelich’s night was far from over. In the sixth inning, with the score still knotted, he stepped in against Reds reliever Scott Barlow and launched his 26th home run of the season—a one-out solo shot that put the Brewers ahead for the first time. The bat Yelich used carried special significance: it featured the home run call of the late Bob Uecker, the beloved former catcher and long-time Brewers announcer. “It felt right,” Yelich said. “Honoring Bob and doing something special with his words on my bat, that’s something I’ll never forget.”
Insurance came in the seventh, when Brandon Lockridge—who went 3-for-5 on the night—doubled off Sam Moll with two outs. Moments later, he dashed home on a wild pitch, stretching the Brewers’ lead to 10-8 and giving their bullpen a little breathing room. Lockridge’s hustle and timely hitting were crucial in a game where every run mattered.
From there, Milwaukee’s bullpen slammed the door. Nick Mears (4-3) pitched a scoreless fifth inning, steadying the ship and setting the stage for a parade of relievers. In a remarkable display of dominance, six Brewers relievers combined to retire the final 23 Reds batters in order. Trevor Megill took the mound in the ninth and struck out two, notching his 29th save of the season and putting an emphatic exclamation point on the comeback. The Reds, who had been unstoppable early, found themselves utterly stymied down the stretch.
The victory was more than just another tick in the win column—it tied the Brewers’ club record for consecutive wins at 13, a streak that has electrified fans and drawn national attention. “This group has something special,” manager Craig Counsell said. “They play for each other, they never give in, and that’s what you saw tonight.”
The Brewers’ surge has been nothing short of remarkable. Since mid-July, they’ve won 28 out of 32 games, a blistering pace that has them firmly in the playoff race and brimming with confidence. Yelich, who has rediscovered his MVP-caliber form, has led the charge, but contributions have come from up and down the roster. Vaughn’s power, Turang’s clutch hitting, and Lockridge’s spark have all played key roles in the team’s success.
The Reds, for their part, were left searching for answers. Their offense looked unstoppable in the early going, but Milwaukee’s relievers simply shut them down after the second inning. Cincinnati’s bullpen couldn’t hold the lead, and the loss stung even more given the historic implications for their division rival. “We let one get away,” Reds manager David Bell admitted. “That’s a tough one, but we’ve got to move on and get ready for tomorrow.”
Friday’s game was filled with memorable moments, but none more poignant than Yelich’s tribute to Bob Uecker. The bat, inscribed with Uecker’s famous home run call, seemed to carry a bit of magic. “It’s just one of those nights where everything lined up,” Yelich said, smiling. “To do it with Bob’s words on the bat, that makes it even sweeter.”
Looking ahead, the Brewers will try to break the franchise record for consecutive wins on Saturday when they send right-hander Quinn Priester (11-2, 3.49 ERA) to the mound against Reds righty Zack Littell (9-8, 3.60 ERA). With momentum on their side and history within reach, Milwaukee’s players and fans alike are buzzing with anticipation.
The Reds, meanwhile, will aim to regroup and spoil the Brewers’ party. After Friday’s wild swings and dramatic finish, anything seems possible. That’s the beauty of baseball—no matter how big the lead or how long the odds, the game isn’t over until the final out. And on this unforgettable night in Cincinnati, the Brewers proved exactly that.
As the sun sets on the Queen City and the Brewers pack up for another showdown, one thing is clear: this team believes, and with the way they’re playing, who’s to say how far they can go?
