Homer Bailey helps Cincinnati Reds overcome Milwaukee Brewers with 3-1 win – MLB News
The Cincinnati Reds’ starter Homer Bailey got his ninth win of the season on Friday, July 20, to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 at Great American Ball Park. The Reds’ offence seemed revitalised, hitting three solo homers to outclass the Brewers.
However, while the home-runs had their own fascination, inspiring the fans as a whole, it was Homer Bailey who outshone his rival Marco Estrada and the Brewers offence. Bailey pitched eight strong innings and allowing only a run in his spell.
This was the first ever win for the Reds’ 26-year-old starter Homer Bailey against the Brewers, after he was beaten twice this year by the club.
"Everybody knows if you're a starting pitcher you have teams that you don't do as well against," Bailey said. "I knew that I never really did that good against them. You just try to put it behind you and go from there."
The quality pitching not only buoyed the Reds. The Brewers' manager Ron Roenicke also acknowledged that Bailey had better velocity and sliders.
"His fastball, I've seen him have better velocity, but his location, I thought, was real good today," Roenicke said. "He had a really good slider today, down and away, and we weren't picking it up well. I thought there was a big difference [from] the last two times we faced him."
Zack Cozart hit the first homer for the Reds in the fourth inning to left, giving them a 1-0 lead followed by seventh inning solo homer by Jay Bruce that doubled the lead. Bruce’s homer came at a time when his performance had recently seen a sharp slump.
Scott Rolen tripled the lead for the Reds in the same inning as Estrada failed to overcome the Reds hitters. Bailey continued his wonderful pitching spell, having had 10 strike-outs in his eighth inning spell, allowing only a run to Norichika Aoki who doubled to deep left to bring the lead down to 3-1.
However, Aroldis Chapman, the Reds closer, was stronger once again to finish the game off with 3-1 win, giving Cincinnati a 1-0 lead in the seemingly tough three-game series.
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