Suárez HR off Hader in 9th lifts Reds over Brewers 4-3

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Eugenio Suárez hit a leadoff home run in the ninth inning against All-Star closer Josh Hader and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 Saturday night in a game that included three ejections.

Suárez hit a 2-0 pitch from Hader (3-1) into the second deck of the right-field bleachers for his 18th homer.

“It was a big moment for me and for the team,” Suárez said. “Big win, man, before the All-Star break. Everybody knows that Hader has a really good fastball. He's one of the best closers in the game. In my mind, I was like, 'don't let him beat you.'"

Prior to the go-ahead homer, Suárez was hitless in his previous 10 at-bats and is 3 for 38 (.079) against the Brewers in 2021.

“It was a game-winner,” Reds manager David Bell said. “And, it came against one of the best in the game.”

Heath Hembree took care of Milwaukee in the bottom half for his second consecutive save and sixth overall, helping the Reds pull within five games of the NL Central-leading Brewers.

Josh Osich (2-0) got one out in the eighth for the win.

Tyrone Taylor hit a two-run homer off Reds reliever Brad Brach in the eighth to tie it at 3.

Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta, who will be replacing teammate Brandon Woodruff on the NL All-Star team, held Cincinnati hitless until All-Star Nick Castellanos connected in the sixth for his 18th homer, a three-run shot that made it 3-1.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell then came out to get Peralta and was ejected by plate umpire Gabe Morales for arguing about the 2-2 pitch to Castellanos.

“That was the pitch,” Counsell said about what got him tossed. “I feel like it's been a rough series for the umpires. So, yeah, there's a lot of guys upset, both teams.”

Counsell was ejected for the third...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Su-rez-HR-off-Hader-in-9th-lifts-Reds-over-16306676.php