The Reds got an early jolt in Milwaukee, and it came at a cost.
Center fielder Dane Myers made a jaw-dropping catch in the bottom of the fourth with Cincinnati up 1-0, laying his body on the line in a play that looked like it could swing the night. Instead, it turned into a frightening scene when Myers crashed into the wall and then had to leave the game shortly after the grab.
The catch was the kind that stops everyone for a second. It also left plenty of concern about his shoulder, because from every angle, Myers looked like he may have taken the worst of it. The medical cart came out soon after, and Myers was out of the game.
Terry Francona turned to TJ Friedl in center field after the injury. Friedl had recently been called back up during the Pirates series.
At the time this was written, Cincinnati was still hanging on to a 3-0 lead, and Myers’ play had at least given the Reds something to cling to beyond the scoreboard. It was the kind of effort that can grab a clubhouse, especially for a team that badly needs a spark.
That need is obvious. The Reds came into this series knowing how much it means, and the numbers make the challenge clear: Milwaukee has won 15 of the last 17 series between the teams. That’s a tough stretch for Cincinnati to climb out of.
There was also a little opening for the Reds before the first pitch even went down. Milwaukee had leaned heavily on its bullpen over the weekend against the Chicago Cubs, using all three of its top relief arms multiple times. That left one of the Brewers’ biggest strengths a bit worn down coming into the series.
Whether Cincinnati can turn that into something bigger remains to be seen. But Myers’ play showed plenty about the fight still in this group, even if the season has felt close to the edge.
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Dane Myers Left Reds Fans Holding Their Breath After Huge Catch
Dane Myers gave the Reds exactly the kind of highlight play that can change a game against Milwaukee, racing into center field for a huge catch and helping Cincinnati keep control of the moment. The play drew the kind of attention a defensive gem always does, but it also came with a twist the Reds did not want to see: Myers appeared to be hurt on the way down and had to leave the game shortly after.
TJ Friedl stepped into center field after Myers exited, and Cincinnati was still trying to bank a win in a series that has not gone well for it lately against the Brewers. With the Reds already dealing with the grind of a tough matchup and a lead to protect, the only real question left hanging was how serious Myers shoulder issue might be and what it could mean beyond this game. [Read more 🡒]
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The catch is that Balcazars production has come with more swing-and-miss, which is the sort of development that can change how a player is viewed in a hurry. His batting average has slipped, and the rising strikeout total has raised the familiar question for a young hitter with pop: can he keep enough contact to make the power play at higher levels? For the Reds, the answer matters because the shortstop pipeline is supposed to supply a key piece of the next competitive core, and the difference between a useful prospect and a centerpiece may come down to how Balcazar adjusts from here. [Read more 🡒]