Covering the bases 8/16/2025: Brewers 6, Reds 5 (11 inn., record 14 straight wins)
The 2025 Milwaukee Brewers stand alone in franchise history after notching their 14th consecutive victory, tying the game in the top of the ninth inning, then winning it in the 11th inning 6-5 over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday at Great American Ball Park. Andruw Monasterio etched his place in team lore by hitting a three-run homer in the 11th, then the Brewers hung on in the bottom of the 11th, with center fielder Brandon Lockridge tracking down the final out on the warning track in right-center. This streak surpasses the 13-0 start to the 1987 season by the Brewers.
The record-breaking win boosted the Brewers' MLB-best record to 78-44 and kept them nine games ahead of the second-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. The Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1.
Combined with an 11-game winning streak that ended 10 days before this one began, the Brewers are 29-4 (.879 winning percentage) over their last 33 games and 57-19 (.750) in their last 76.
FIRST BASE: Priester streak alive
Right-hander Quinn Priester kept his streak of winning 10 straight decisions intact. Priester was better than he was last time out, but yielded solo homers to Ke'Bryan Hayes and Spencer Steer in the sixth inning. Priester would last two more batters after Steer made it 2-0 before being pulled. He went 5⅓ innings, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out five.
SECOND BASE: Making them pay
One of the hallmarks of this winning streak is capitalizing on errors by the opposition. The Reds committed three errors Saturday, including two in key late-game situations. That brings the total number of errors committed by the opposition to 19 in the 14-game streak.
THIRD BASE: Staying alive
The Brewers were taking their last gasp in the top of the ninth inning, with the 13-game winning streak on the verge of coming to an end. But then Uecker Magic stepped in and created another unforgettable moment. Down 2-1, Brice Turang and Tyler Black opened the ninth against Reds closer Emilio Pagan by walking, then Lockridge popped out to first base. That brought up Sal Frelick, who hit a grounder to second base in what looked to be a game-ending double play. Second baseman Matt McLain flipped the ball to rocket-armed shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who stepped on second to retire Black. De La Cruz uncorked a 91 mph missile to first that short-hopped and was wide of first baseman Steer and bounced away. Not only was Frelick safe at first, but the wild throw allowed Turang to trot home from third with the tying run.
HOME PLATE: Monasterio's miracle
Monasterio sat on the bench for the first 10 innings, but then was called upon to pinch-hit for Black in the top of the 11th with none out and runners on first and third. Monasterio didn't waste any time, ambushing a first-pitch changeup from Reds left-hander Joe La Sorsa and driving deep into the left-field stands.
EXTRA BASES: Quintana eyes 15
⚾ Left-hander Jose Quintana (10-4, 3.44 ERA) goes for the Brewers in the series finale vs. Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott (8-3, 2.41 ERA) as the Brewers seek their 15th straight win. Quintana has been steady and solid in the Crew's rotation, allowing three runs or less in 14 of his 18 starts. In the other four? Four, four, five and six runs. In his last start vs. the Pirates, Quintana allowed just one run in six innings, which appears to be about his max these days. Abbott has been similar for the Reds and is coming off surrendering three runs over 7⅔ against the Philadelphia Phillies.
⚾ The bullpen suffered a blow when left-hander DL Hall went on the 15-day injured list due to a strained right oblique. Hall went 2⅔ innings in Friday's win. Right-hander Grant Anderson is back on the MLB roster after a one-day absence.
