Covering the bases 8/17/2025: Reds 3, Brewers 2 (10 inn., streak ends at 14)
Despite more ninth-inning magic, the longest winning streak in Milwaukee Brewers history came to an end with a 3-2 walk-off loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at Great American Ball Park. The loss snapped the franchise-record 14-game winning streak and was the Brewers' first loss since the calendar flipped to August. The Brewers still hold the best record in MLB at 78-45 and have a comfortable cushion atop the NL Central, leading the second-place Chicago Cubs by eight games after the Cubs beat the Pittsburgh Pirate 4-3. When the streak began, the Brewers held a one-game lead over the Cubs. The two NL Central rivals open a five-game series Monday.
FIRST BASE: Rare error
A handful of lineup moves involving pinch-hitters led to Platinum Glove second baseman Brice Turang having to move over to shortstop in the bottom of the ninth inning. And as they say, the ball always finds you. Turang wasn't able to cleanly field a tricky smash up the middle leading off the ninth. Turang hadn't committed an error since July 26. It led to the Reds tying the game and forcing extra innings.
SECOND BASE: Quintana's extra workload
With the exception of his first game in a Brewers uniform, Jose Quintana had not pitched more than six innings this season. Contreras turned in an outstanding start, going 6⅓ and allowing just one run on five hits and one walk, striking out four. Two of the hits came leading off the seventh, with a sacrifice fly scoring the game's first run before Quintana was pulled after 98 pitches.
THIRD BASE: Clutch Contreras
For the second game in a row, the Brewers kept their winning streak alive with a ninth-inning rally. This time, it was a two-run homer from William Conteras that erased a 1-0 deficit and gave the Brewers a 2-1 lead in the top of the ninth inning against Reds closer Emilio Pagan.
HOME PLATE: Everything ends
The streak was going to end at some point. Considering the Brewers have a doubleheader Monday, decisions regarding who pitched when and how long can be debated, but manager Pat Murphy knew the value of a win Sunday vs. having arms available for Monday was a tightrope. Right-hander Grant Anderson relieved Tobias Myers in the ninth and continued in the 10th. A sacrifice bunt to lead off the bottom of the 10th set the stage for intentional walks to Elly De La Cruz and Will Benson to load the bases. Austin Hays then lined the first pitch to left field to end the streak and keep the Reds from being swept for the 41st straight series.
A WALK-OFF WIN FOR THE @REDS 😤
— MLB (Bot) (@mlbbot.bsky.social) August 17, 2025 at 1:24 PM
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EXTRA BASES: Finally, the Cubs series
⚾ After a lot of talk and hype, the Brewers and Cubs square off in a highly anticipated five-game series beginning Monday at Wrigley Field. While the Brewers have taken some of the steam out of the series with their two winning streaks over the last month-plus, there is still importance. The series begins with a doubleheader Monday, with the Brewers sending Freddy Peralta (14-5, 2.90 ERA, Game 1) and a pitcher TBA against the Cubs. The rest of the matchups are Brewers RHP Brandon Woodruff (4-0, 2.06 ERA) vs. Cubs TBA on Tuesday, Brewers RHP Jacob Misiorowski (4-1, 3.89 ERA) vs. Cubs TBA on Wednesday and Brewers RHP Quinn Priester (11-2, 3.48 ERA) vs. Cubs TBA on Thursday.
⚾ Center fielder Blake Perkins returned to the Brewers' lineup after missing the last two games while on the bereavement list. Steward Berroa, who filled in as the starting center fielder, was sent back to Triple-A Nashville.
