The veteran designated hitter tied Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. for ninth place on the Cincinnati Reds' all-time home run list.
Eugenio Suárez made Reds history on Friday against the NL Central rival Milwaukee Brewers, launching his 210th career homer as a Red to tie Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. for the ninth spot on Cincinnati's all-time home run list.
Even though the Reds fell to their divisional opponent 10-7, Suárez set the tone for a memorable night at Great American Ball Park as the Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela native played his first game since briefly stepping away from the team to take his U.S. citizenship test, which he passed per MLB.com.
Elly De La Cruz struck early in the first inning with a one-run single off Brewers starter Shane Drohan that scored Dane Myers for a 1-0 lead.
Milwaukee had other plans in the second when Cooper Pratt grounded out to bring home Brice Turang while David Hamilton put them ahead 2-1 with an RBI triple that brought in Garrett Mitchell.
Matt McLain reclaimed the lead that same inning with a two-run homer to left-center field, but Turang swiftly answered back in the third with a two-run double that scored William Contreras and Jackson Chourio.
Cincinnati countered once again as Suárez crushed his historic go-ahead three-run shot to center field.
However, reliever Sam Moll relinquished the momentum back in Milwaukee's favor when a hit by pitch on Turang with the bases loaded allowed Chourio to reach home while Pratt delivered with an electric three-run triple to drive in Christian Yelich, Contreras and Turang. Pratt scored as well off a Moll wild pitch.
Contreras joined in the action during the sixth with an RBI double to score Jake Bauers while Sal Stewart responded in the seventh with a one-run single, driving in Myers and putting the Reds within three.
JJ Bleday attempted to spark a comeback effort in the eighth with a walk, but it was insufficient when McLain and Héctor Rodríguez struck out to end the inning. The Reds would fail to create any traffic in the ninth, sealing their fate.
With the loss, Suárez has now batted .207 while recording a .718 OPS and launching 21 home runs. He has also knocked in 62 RBI since beginning his second stint with Cincinnati this season on a one-year, $15 million contract after previously playing for the Seattle Mariners and Arizona Diamondbacks.
Suárez should get his next opportunity to contribute this evening at 6:40 p.m. EDT as the Reds look to even the series with left-hander Andrew Abbott taking the mound against Dustin May.
