Cincinnati Reds Swept by Brewers After Lifeless Effort in 6-1 Loss

W: Taylor Jungmann (3-1)

L: Mike Leake (5-5)

The Cincinnati Reds may have just hit rock bottom in their 2015 season.

A 6-1 defeat on Sunday sealed a sweep at the hands of the Milwaukee Brewers in Great American Ball Park. Those same Brewers fired their manager just 25 games into the season and entered the series with the second-worst record in baseball. They left town having dominated the Reds in every facet of the game, outscoring their NL Central foes 25-5 in the process.

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In another lifeless effort, the Reds were shut down by another rookie pitcher, managing only six baserunners (four hits, two walks) against Taylor Jungmann, who pitched a career-high eight innings. Not a single Reds hitter reached base until the fifth, when Jay Bruce led off with a double.

Mike Leake wasted no time putting the Reds in a hole as he gave up two hits and a walk in a 28-pitch first inning to give the Brewers an early one-run lead.

He surrendered another in the second after giving up a single to Jean Segura and an RBI double to Scooter Gennett, the first two hitters of the inning.

The righty labored through four more innings, allowing another run in the fifth. Leake was finished after six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits and three walks, striking out four. This start didn’t do much to help Leake’s trade value.

The game got blown wide open in the seventh, as Carlos Contreras gave up a pair of home runs, the first to Gerardo Parra to lead the inning off and the second to Adam Lind, a two-run shot to make it 6-0.

The only Reds run came in the eighth, when Skip Schumaker drew a pinch-hit walk and scored on a double by Brandon Phillips.

Other Notes:

• Marlon Byrd was one of the few Reds who showed up on offense, putting in a 2-for-4 effort to extend his hitting streak to 10 games.
• Bruce was the only other Red to reach base more than once, doubling in the fifth for the team’s first baserunner of the day and walking in the ninth.
• The slump at the plate continued for Joey Votto, as he went 0-for-4. He’s now 3-for-32 over his last nine games.
• In what could be his final game in GABP if he’s traded before the deadline, Aroldis Chapman fired a perfect ninth inning.

Up Next: The Reds travel to Washington, D.C., on Monday to take on the Nationals. Anthony DeSclafani will get the start, while Doug Fister will take the mound for the Nationals. First pitch will be at 7:05 p.m. ET.

Next: Five players the Reds should shop at the deadline