Milwaukee dismantled Cincinnati’s defense in a historic shutout as Andrew Abbott’s early collapse ignited an eight-run Brewers surge, leaving the Reds hitless outside of rookie Sal Stewart.
You know those games that you like to pretend never happened? That’s what transpired for the Cincinnati Reds in Milwaukee on Friday night. A jaw-dropping 20-0 loss is the fourth straight defeat for the Reds, fresh off a run of winning three straight series against the Cubs, Padres, and, funnily enough, the Brewers.
Cincinnati was swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers, getting outscored 23-6 across the games. They had the benefit of five straight games with a home run from shortstop Elly De La Cruz, who is putting an exclamation point on one of his best seasons in a Reds uniform, but outside of that, there was very little to cheer about for Cincinnati.
Brewers right-hander Dustin May got the start, striking out the red-hot Elly De La Cruz and JJ Bleday in the first inning.
Jackson Chourio doubled with no outs, coming into the series against the Reds after going 8-14 against the Cubs. Brice Turang legged out a bunt single in the first, setting the table for a William Contreras sacrifice fly to give the Brewers a 1-0 lead. The beginning of the end.
Andrew Abbott gave up two runs in the first inning. He came into the game with a 4.43 ERA on the season, after posting a 6.89 ERA in the month of August. Abbott’s two worst months have both come in 2026, including a 7.22 ERA in April.
Jackson Chourio struck big in the second inning, scoring one on a ground-rule double that was very nearly a three-run home run. It was the 10th hit Chourio had recorded this week. Turang did what Chourio couldn’t, leaving the yard to right-center field.
By the end of the second, the Brewers had taken an 8-0 lead and firm control of the game. Reliever Julian Garcia relieved Abbott in the third inning, making it the shortest outing of Abbott’s career. He hasn’t reached the fifth inning in any of his last three starts, allowing 16 earned runs and walking just two across those three appearances.
Luis Mey relieved Garcia in the fourth and gave up eight runs on eight hits. The Reds’ offense was able to record just two hits, both coming from NL Rookie of the Year hopeful Sal Stewart.
Eight, count ’em, eight Brewers hitters posted multi-hit games, with Jackson Chourio, one of the hottest hitters in baseball, leading the way with four hits and two runs batted in. Joey Ortiz also had four hits, with Brice Turang adding three.
