Reds roll craps after detour through Las Vegas, routed by Brewers

The Cincinnati Reds endured one of the most lopsided defeats in recent memory as the Milwaukee Brewers dismantled them 20-0 in a game that also marked the Brewers’ clinching of their eighth playoff appearance in nine years. The Brewers are on the verge of capturing a fourth straight National League Central title, underscoring their dominance in the division.

This staggering loss for the Reds followed a tumultuous week that saw the team face the reigning world champion Los Angeles Dodgers and suffer a significant setback on the road. An unexpected mechanical issue forced their charter flight to divert to Las Vegas, resulting in an unplanned layover at the Bellagio. Though manager Terry Francona downplayed the disruption, suggesting it could have been worse, the team’s performance on the field suggested the travel complications may have contributed to their struggles.

The Reds stumbled quickly in Milwaukee. Starting pitcher Andrew Abbott experienced the worst outing of his professional career, facing 15 batters and giving up nine hits with eight runs scoring before being pulled in the second inning. Abbott, a rising star with All-Star potential for 2025, admitted to falling short of his own standards, acknowledging the difficulty of the outing and its impact on the team.

Milwaukee’s offense exploded early and often. The Brewers hit four home runs during the contest, including a grand slam by Garrett Mitchell, their first of the season, which came off Reds pitcher Luis Mey in the fifth inning. The barrage of runs included back-to-back homers in the second inning, which rapidly put the Reds on the back foot and set the tone for the remainder of the game.

By the fifth inning, the Brewers had batted around the order twice and built a commanding 17-0 lead, a scoreline that served as a stark reminder of the Reds’ faltering season and the Brewers’ offensive resurgence. This game marked the Reds’ most significant defeat since a 20-9 loss to the Chicago Cubs in August 2023 and their worst blowout since 2009.

The Reds’ recent stretch has been marked by poor outcomes, dropping to 0-4 on this six-game road trip and falling nine games below .500. With only 15 games left on their schedule, Cincinnati faces an uphill battle to finish above .500, needing to win at least 11 of their remaining contests.

Compounding the Reds’ woes, their usually hot shortstop Elly De La Cruz saw his five-game home run streak snapped. De La Cruz, who had been a bright spot for the club, was held hitless in terms of power, walking and striking out multiple times in the game. His streak was the second-longest in franchise history, trailing only Joey Votto’s seven-game run in 2021.

The Reds’ struggles were so acute that position players even took the mound in relief, with catcher Jose Trevino pitching in consecutive games, a sign of the depth of Cincinnati’s difficulties this season. While Francona emphasized maintaining professionalism and not diminishing the integrity of the game, the situation illustrated the challenges the team has faced in maintaining competitiveness.

Ultimately, the Brewers’ dominating performance and playoff clinch contrasted sharply with the Reds’ season trajectory. Cincinnati’s difficulties on and off the field, including the travel disruption and pitching struggles, have compounded their challenges, leaving the team searching for answers as the season winds down. Details about the Reds’ strategy moving forward remain limited, but the results underline the gap between these two National League Central contenders this season.