With two outs, two runners in scoring position and the score tied in the fourth inning on Friday, Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson faced the exact situation that he had prepared for all week.
Williamson has had a solid start to his rookie season, but he knew the next step was getting more strikeouts. He was frustrated with his approach in two-strike counts, and he wanted to be more confident throwing riskier pitches that tail outside of the strike zone to create more swing and miss.
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It’s one thing for a rookie to talk about changing his approach in the first month of his big league career. It’s another to put that into action. Williamson struck out Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Mike Brosseau in that spot in the fourth inning, which was one of Williamson’s six strikeouts. His great start wasn’t enough during a poor day for the Reds’ offense. The Brewers won, 5-4, in 11 innings in front of a crowd of 44,073, which was the largest regular season crowd in Great American Ball Park history.
Reds catcher Curt Casali drove in a run in the 11th inning with an RBI double, but the Reds couldn’t score the game tying run. First baseman Spencer Steer grounded out to end the game. In the 8th, 9th and 10th innings, the Reds failed to convert when they had the go-ahead runner in scoring position.
Reds reliever Fernando Cruz completed a high-wire act in the 10th inning by entering the game with two outs and the bases loaded. He got a fly out to end that inning, but Cruz allowed the go-ahead run in the 11th inning.
After Cruz surrendered a walk and a single, he allowed consecutive fielder’s choices as the Brewers took a two-run lead.
Williamson, who allowed two earned runs in 6 ⅔ innings during the best start of his young career, was efficient and aggressive early in counts and unpredictable in a positive way when he had two strikes. He threw sliders that tailed far to the right side of the plate and changeups that dove into the dirt to finish strikeouts.
In 2021, before the Reds traded for Williamson, he was one of the best pitchers in all of Minor League Baseball at striking batters out. Williamson lost some of that last season as he battled shoulder soreness, and he had to regain his confidence in 2023. He had a 6.62 ERA in Triple-A, allowing a lot of walks and lacking the same zip with his fastball.
Williamson adjusted his approach. Instead of prioritizing his fastball and his curveball, he prioritized his cutter and his changeup. He has been able to get soft contact more consistently, and he showed some of his strikeout potential on Friday. In a game that went into extra innings, Williamson’s long start on Friday carried even more significance.
Williamson went neck-and-neck with 2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes. Brewers center fielder Joey Wiemer took advantage of a cutter that Williamson left over the middle of the plate, but that was Williamson’s only mistake.
Reds second baseman Jonathan India kept the Reds in the game with a two-run homer in the third inning, driving a cutter over the middle of the plate.
India continues to provide a spark in the Reds’ order. He stayed in the game on Friday after being accidentally spiked on a slide at second base. He got hit by a pitch in the eighth inning and stole a base a few pitches later. India has also recently had its best results of the season hitting for power after moving to the No. 3 spot in the Reds’ lineup.
Takeaways from Reds vs. Brewers
1. Reds right fielder Jake Fraley’s hustle got the Reds their first run of the game. Following a walk, Fraley stole second with a head-first slide. After advancing to third, Fraley scored on a weak ground ball where he beat the throw home with another slide. For a Reds team that hasn’t hit many homers, baserunning has become a consistent way for them to create runs.
2. Williamson allowed an unearned run in the fourth inning following an error by shortstop Matt McLain. As McLain tried to turn a double play, he sailed his throw to second, which let the runners advance. The Brewers took advantage of that chance to score in the fourth inning, but Williamson’s strikeout against Brosseau stopped the rally.
3. In a game where the Reds only had three hits, top prospect Elly De La Cruz continued to provide highlight after highlight in Triple-A. Right as the 11th inning started, De La Cruz hit a high fly ball that looked like an out, but the top prospect’s power carried it over the fence for a home run. The Reds entered this weekend’s series against the Brewers with a chance to jump up to first place in the division. The Reds are waiting for the right timing to call De La Cruz up, but his power, speed and defense could have helped the Reds on Friday.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds can’t capitalize on Brandon Williamson’s great start vs. Brewers