In a rain‑delayed showdown at Great American Ball Park, the Cincinnati Reds rallied late to secure a 5‑3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night. The win gave the Reds a much‑needed boost after a string of losses, while the Brewers remained atop the National League Central.

Key moments

After a 2‑hour, 22‑minute rain delay in the fourth inning, the game resumed with the Reds trailing 2‑1. Matt McLain broke the deadlock in the seventh inning, launching his 15th career home run off Aaron Ashby to give Cincinnati a 3‑2 lead. Earlier, Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson each added solo shots, accounting for all three Reds homers.

Milwaukee’s offense was sparked early when William Contreras homered off Andrew Abbott in the first inning, marking his 14th of the season. The Brewers answered De La Cruz’s blast with a run in the bottom half, keeping the game tight.

Pitching performances

Emilio Pagán earned his 21st save in 24 opportunities, navigating a bases‑loaded jam in the ninth inning to preserve the win. The Brewers’ starter, Andrew Abbott, was limited by the rain delay and did not record a win, extending his winless streak since August 6.

For the Reds, rookie center‑fielder Carlos Jorge made his first major‑league start, going 0‑for‑4 with two strikeouts. Despite the loss, the Brewers’ bullpen kept the contest close, with Tony Santillan striking out Contreras with the bases loaded in the eighth to maintain a tie.

Looking ahead

Both clubs will look to build on Saturday’s performance. The Reds will host the Brewers again on Sunday, with Kyle Harrison (10‑4, 3.45 ERA) slated to start for Milwaukee and Brady Singer (5‑13, 4.83 ERA) taking the mound for Cincinnati.

Milwaukee continues to lead the NL Central with a seven‑game cushion over the Chicago Cubs, while Cincinnati remains in last place, striving to climb out of the cellar as the season progresses.

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.