MILWAUKEE (Interstat) — In a contest that defied pregame projections, the Cincinnati Reds used a collective pitching effort to stifle the Milwaukee Brewers’ potent offense, securing a 3-1 victory on Friday night at American Family Field.

A crowd of 40,316 watched as the Reds, cast as significant underdogs, methodically built their lead against Brewers’ starter Quinn Priester while a parade of six Cincinnati pitchers held Milwaukee to just three hits. The win improved the Reds to 82-78 on the season, while the National League Central champion Brewers fell to 96-64.

The game was a stark contrast to the offensive fireworks predicted by Interstat’s game simulator, which had projected a 6-5 Milwaukee victory. The Brewers entered the game with a 65.3 percent probability to win according to the ELO system and were installed as 1.5-run favorites, but the total score of four runs fell well under the over/under line of 8.

Cincinnati’s offense, which amassed nine hits, was led by Gavin Lux and TJ Friedl. Lux went 2-for-4 with two doubles, scoring two of the Reds’ three runs. Friedl also collected two hits, including a double.

The Brewers struck first, plating their lone run in the bottom of the third inning. Christian Yelich ignited the rally with a sharp line-drive double to right field. After Jackson Chourio struck out, Brice Turang singled up the middle, easily scoring Yelich to give Milwaukee a 1-0 lead.

The Reds responded immediately in the top of the fourth. Lux led off with a fly-ball double to left field and advanced to third on a Miguel Andujar single. After Elly De La Cruz popped out, Spencer Steer delivered a clutch single to left field, scoring Lux to tie the game. The Reds threatened for more, loading the bases on a Tyler Stephenson single, but Ke’Bryan Hayes grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play, one of two double plays Cincinnati hit into on the night.

Cincinnati took the lead for good in the sixth inning. Lux again was the catalyst, lining his second double of the game to left field. He alertly advanced to third when left fielder Jake Bauers mishandled the ball for an error. Andujar followed with a line-drive single to center, plating Lux to make it 2-1. Andujar then moved to third on a single by De La Cruz and a stolen base. Stephenson brought him home with a sacrifice fly to deep center field, providing a critical insurance run.

The story of the game, however, was the Reds’ pitching staff. Starter Zack Littell navigated 4 2/3 solid innings, allowing one earned run on three hits while striking out three. He left the game with two outs in the fifth inning after Chourio reached on a fielding error by De La Cruz.

Connor Phillips entered in relief and struck out Brice Turang to end the fifth-inning threat. Phillips was credited with the win, his fifth against no losses this season, after pitching 1 1/3 perfect innings and striking out three of the four batters he faced.

The Reds’ bullpen was flawless the rest of the way. Graham Ashcraft and Tony Santillan each contributed a scoreless inning, and closer Emilio Pagán worked a perfect ninth, striking out one, to record his 31st save of the season. From the fifth inning onward, Brewers hitters managed just one baserunner, a walk to Chourio in the eighth that was immediately erased by a 6-3 double play started by De La Cruz.

Priester took the loss for Milwaukee, falling to 13-3. He worked five innings, surrendering all three Cincinnati runs on nine hits while striking out four. The Brewers’ bullpen, featuring Tobias Myers and Nick Mears, was perfect over the final four innings, but the damage had already been done.

The victory gives the Reds momentum as they continue their final series of the season. The two teams are scheduled to meet again on Saturday and Sunday to conclude the 2025 regular season.