Gomez Leap Saves Brewers Game, Pirates Look to Snap Losing Streak Against the A’s

Thanks to a leap and successful catch by Carlos Gomez to stop a go-ahead home run by the Cincinnati Reds (50-39) Joey Votto, the Milwaukee Brewers (36-52) defeated the Reds 4-3 on Monday.

Let’s just say that player can jump.

Carlos Gomez

Gomez later said after the game once he saw the ball, he said, “I got it” and then added via MLB.com, “In that situation, when you save the game like that, or when you hit a walk-off home run, it’s amazing. I’ve never hit one, but I’ve caught a home run ball to win the game. It’s something special. You can’t wait to get home and see it over and over.”

It’s been a good last few days as Gomez had been previously named to his first All-Star team.

But his catch wasn’t the only disappointment for the Reds; pitcher righty Homer Bailey (5-7) saw a possible second straight no hitter come to an early end in the first inning with a single by Jean Segura. The Brewers’ two home runs (a third straight game with a home run by Jonathan Lucroy) didn’t help matters either.

Brewers righty Kyle Lohse (5-6) got his fourth straight win and pitched to the seventh inning. He gave up three runs with nine hits and watched his ERA go to 2.37.

Segura, besides being the spoiler for Bailey, added a RBI double in the second inning with an infield hit during the fifth. For the night, he got on base four times; he leads the NL with his 113 hits and also punched his All-Star ticket last weekend.

The Brewers have now won two games over the Reds in seven attempts. This could give them some bragging rights but they still sit at the bottom of the NL Central at 17.5 games behind the leading St. Louis Cardinals (53-34).

Yes, for this year, the Brewers are +50000 to win the World Series.

Trying for a second straight win may be more their speed as they’ll again play the Reds on Tuesday in Game 2 of this three-game series.

Brewers righty Wily Peralta (5-9) will take the mound against Reds lefty Tony Cingrani (3-0). Peralta may be a little iffy as he left his last outing on Tuesday with a strained left hammy.

This may not matter as the Reds will snap their two-game losing streak (-136, 9 o/u).

Ryan Braun

In other Brewers news, the team activated Ryan Braun for Monday’s game even though he did not play. Braun has been sitting on the bench since June 9 with a right thumb contusion. He is likely to return for Tuesday’s game.

Meanwhile, teammate Aramis Ramirez has returned to the disabled list for a second time this season from an injured left knee. Ramirez was previously there in April for about a month from a sprain to the same knee.

Pirates vs. A’s

After a great month of June, the Pittsburgh Pirates (53-35) are sitting on a three-game losing streak and will look to snap it in Game 2 of their three-game series against the Oakland A’s (53-37) on Tuesday.

On Monday, the A’s won 2-1 on another stellar outing by 40-year-old righty Bartolo Colon (12-3). For the night in seven innings of pitching, he allowed one run, gave up seven hits, one walk and five strikeouts. He now sits tied for the second spot in the MLB for wins this season.

His fellow pitcher and All-Star, Pirates lefty Jeff Locke (8-2), saw his eight-game win streak end on another good effort. In seven innings, he gave up three hits with three walks.

Locke said of the game via the Associated Press, “I wouldn’t change anything about it. Everything I did, I’d take it out there the next start.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday’s game, A’s righty Dan Straily (5-2) will take the mound against Pirates righty Gerrit Cole (4-1).

Pittsburgh gets the win (-120, 7.5 o/u).