Hometown Broadcasting Sports Thursday 9/24/20
24 September 2020 Sports
Joey Votto homered for his first hit all season against Milwaukee, Trevor Bauer dominated on short rest, and the Cincinnati Reds won a pivotal series for playoff contention, beating the Brewers 6-1 on Wednesday night. The Reds are in position for a wild-card playoff berth after taking two of three from their NL Central rival. Cincinnati has won nine of 11, its best streak of the season, to get a shot at its first playoff appearance since 2013 under manager Dusty Baker. The Brewers dropped to 27-28 and saw their playoff hopes diminish.
Cincinnati had Bauer (5-4) pitch on three days’ rest. He allowed four hits and struck out 12 in eight innings. Bauer exited with an NL-best 1.73 ERA. Cleveland’s Shane Bieber tops the majors at 1.63 after a strong performance Wednesday night.
After a day off Thursday, Cincinnati finishes with three games in Minnesota and a chance to clinch a spot.
For Milwaukee, it was a disappointing start to a challenging final week on the road. The Brewers fell a game behind the Reds and now head to St. Louis, where they’ll play five games in four days with a doubleheader on Friday.
The Reds’ homer-reliant offense made the difference. Votto was 0 for 22 against Milwaukee this season when he connected in the first inning off Adrian Houser (1-6) for a 2-0 lead. Jesse Winker added a solo homer off Houser, who is 0-6 with a 6.70 ERA in his last nine starts. The Reds pulled away with the help of an error in the fifth. Nick Castellanos reached on second baseman Keston Hiura’s off-target throw. Alex Claudio relieved and walked Votto, and Eugenio Suárez hit his 15th homer for a 6-1 lead.
Ryan Braun got a day off as he continues to deal with a sore back. He was the DH and played right field in the first two games of the series, going 0 for 7 with three strikeouts.
The Brewers are in St. Louis tonight in the first game of a five game series to close out the regular season. Right-hander Corbin Burnes (4-0) with an ERA of 1.73 will start against left-hander Kwang Hyun Kim (2-0). First pitch is at 7:15 and the game can be heard on AM1100/98.3FM, WISS.
Elsewhere in the NL Central on Wednesday, the Pirates nipped the Cubs 2-1 and the Royals pounded the Cardinals 12-3.
The Packers were back on the practice field on Wednesday getting ready for a Sunday night matchup against the Saints in New Orleans. Green Bay is dealing with several injuries among those wide receiver Davante Adams who suffered a hamstring injury Sunday against the Lions. Yesterday he said he was feeling good but that a decision on his availability would come later in the week.
“Just to get a full assessment,” Adams said. “Give me the full amount of time to get right to a real comfortable spot. Obviously, I don’t think we’re there just yet, but we’re making great strides on the way there.”
If he can’t go Sunday, the Packers still know how to win. Last year they went 4-0 after Adams missed four weeks with a turf toe injury.
In Thursday Night Football, Miami (0-2) plays at Jacksonville (1-1).
In the NBA Eastern Conference Finals last night, rookie Tyler Herro poured in 37 points to lead the Miami Heat past the Boston Celtics 112-109 and take a 3-1 series lead. Herro became the second-youngest player in NBA history to score 35 or more in a playoff game. Game five is Friday night. In the Western Conference Finals tonight the Lakers play the Nuggets. The Lakers lead that series 2-1.
Steven Stamkos scored in the first period in his return for the Tampa Bay Lightning, a 5-2 win against the Dallas Stars in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Final at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Wednesday. Tampa Bay leads 2-1 with game four on Friday.
The Wautoma Hornets football team had their season opener Friday against Montello/Princeton/Green Lake postponed. Tomorrow night Adams-Friendship plays at Berlin. The game can be heard on 102.3, The Bug with the pregame starting at 6:45 and the kickoff at 7:00.
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