It isn’t accurate to assume the Cincinnati Reds currently are holding pre-game meetings at a post office so they can mail it in.
It only looks that way.
For the third straight day, the Reds looked as if they’d rather be home with the wife and kids than on a baseball field.
Well, where ya gonna go?
After losing their previous two games by 14-1 and 20-0, the Reds gave up 13 more runs Saturday night to the Milwaukee Brewers — 47 runs in three games.
They needed turnstiles on the basepaths to count the opponent’s runs the last three games.
But at least the Reds scoreed nine runs during the 13-9 whipping they took Saturday, Sept. 12 in American Family Field.
Those nine runs, though, are deceiving.
Reds starter Brady Singer (6-14) gave up a pair of two-run home runs in the first inning to Brice Turang and Garrett Mitchell and the Reds were down quickly, 4-0.
And they were behind, 5-2, in the fourth inning when rookie Juan Brito launched a three-run 410-foot home run to tie it, 5-5.
It was a mirage.
The Brewers scored the next eight runs to take a 13-5 lead, then coasted home.
To their credit, the Reds didn’t mail this one in. They kept trying. They started the eighth inning with six straight hits that produced four runs to pull within 13-9.
All those four runs did was prevent manager Tito Francona from sending catcher Jose Trevino to the mound to mop-up for the third straight game.
And they put two on in the ninth but didn’t score and it amounted to nothing more than their fifth straight defeat.
Singer was ravaged for eight runs on eight hits and five walks for his four innings.
Graham Ashcraft followed him in the fifth and retired one batter while surrendering five runs, six hits and a walk.
The top six batters in Milwaukee’s order each scored two runs. Every Brewers hitter had at least one hit but the number nine batter, Dave Hamilton.
Milwaukee’s Garrett Mitchell put together a career night with four hits, four RBI and two runs scored.
The Reds matched Milwaukee’s hit total with 14, led by rookie Brito’s three hits that included his home run.
“We’re seeing a kid that seems to be a baseball player,” Reds manager Tito Francona told reporters. “We’ve put him at second and we’ve put him at third. He took balls in the outfield today.
“He knows how to play and right-handed he looks really good,” he said about the switch-hitting Brito. “Sometimes kids get a chance and maybe they make the most of it.”
Elly De La Cruz extended his on-base streak to 19 straight with two doubles. But he didn’t score because Sal Stewart is in a mini-slump and struck out both times behind him.
Milwaukee is now 48-19 against the Reds over the past five seasons and is 24-12 against National League Central brethren. The Reds are 14-30.
While the Brewers are last in MLB in home runs, they’ve hit six in the two games against the Reds this weekend.
But it was a typical Brewers inning when they scored five in the fifth: five singles, a double and an intentional walk.
Singer gave up a walk in front of each home run in the first and a walk preceded a three-run homer by Will Contreras.
“Five walks, a lot of hits (eight). . .that’s a lot of traffic,” said Francona, describing Singer’s night. “I’ll tell you what, he competes his (butt) off. He was pleading with me to go back out for the fifth.
“On a night when things aren’t working very good, it kinda gives some hope,” he added. “That keeps me going.
“I was glad we battled back, but there was a lot of baserunners and it looked like they were scoring at will,” he added. “But we were still plugging and that means something.”
Francona didn’t permit Singer to continue because Graham Ashcraft, just off the injured list, was warmed up and Francona didn’t want to sit him down without using him.
It was fatal to the tune of five runs and six hits.
Asked how he plans to lift the spirits of a team that has given up 47 runs in three games, Francona said, “I have to be honest with them but I also care about ‘em. We care about ‘em and they’re OK.”
Francona had a succinct and perfect description of the 93-56 Brewers, who have qualified for post-season play for the seventh time in the last eight years.
“They catch everything in sight,” he said. “They run the bases. They’re all fast. They are so balanced. They have guys sitting on the bench that complement them very well.”
The Reds, 3-and-9 this season against the Brewers, have one more chance Sunday afternoon to see if they can keep them under double figures.