Jesús Aguilar stays hot, Eric Thames torches the Reds once again

CINCINNATI - There was something familiar about how the Milwaukee Brewers' 6-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds played out on Thursday night.

First there was Jesús Aguilar, remaining red-hot with three more hits, including his 19th home run of the season to tie the game in the third at 2-2.

Then there was Eric Thames, remaining the Reds' worst nightmare by hitting a game-turning, three-run homer in the seventh inning off Amir Garrett.

And finally it was the bullpen, taking over for starter Junior Guerra and pitching three strong innings to close out a much-needed comeback.

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"That was awesome," said Christian Yelich, who wasn't able to participate in the festivities after leaving the game in the first inning with lower-back tightness.

"The guys did great tonight. Some big hits, guys getting some big outs. It was definitely fun to watch.

"It was a huge win for us."

Added manager Craig Counsell: "Tonight was a good win, man. We had a lot of guys do a lot to contribute."

It appeared as though the Brewers could be headed for another frustrating defeat based on how the first inning transpired.

After Yelich had to be lifted, Junior Guerra surrendered a leadoff homer to José Peraza and an RBI double to Eugenio Suárez to leave Milwaukee in an early 2-0 hole.

Aguilar, who'd already singled in the first, took matters into his own hands in the third. After a Keon Broxton infield single, Aguilar homered to left to even the score at 2-2.

It was Aguilar's 19th homer, tying him for the National League lead with far more recognizable sluggers Bryce Harper and Nolan Arenado. His 10 homers in June are tied for second-most in the major leagues, and his 24 RBI are most in the NL.

"I try not to think about it," Aguilar said. "I just try to go out there and do my job. I’m seeing the ball real well right now, so I’m just trying to keep it going."

What was also notable about Aguilar's homer was the fact it came with two strikes in the count. He now has 10 such homers to go with 32 RBI on the season, most in the majors.

Now hitting .313 with 54 RBI and an OPS of 1.018 on the season, Aguilar is beginning to be talked about as a serious candidate for the All-Star Game.

Is that registering with the Venezuelan slugger?

"I can’t control any of that," he said. "I’ve just got to keep doing what I’ve been doing. It’d be a real blessing if I got an opportunity to go there, but other than that I just try to do my job and help the team win."

It sounds as though he has Thames's vote.

"He just barrels everything, and if he doesn’t it’s still a hit somewhere on the field," he said. "And if you hang it, he’ll blast it 400 feet. He’s incredible. He’s quick and he’s on the field every day, every inning.

"He’s carrying our team right now."

The game didn't stay tied for long, as Jesse Winker's two-run homer in the bottom of the third pushed the Reds back in front at 4-2.

It stayed that way until the seventh, when Thames checked in.

He stepped to the plate with runners on first and second and two outs and the left-hander Garrett on the mound. In a 2-0 count, Thames turned on a fastball and sent it out to right-center, putting Milwaukee in front for the first time on the night at 5-4.

It was the 10th homer of the season for Thames but his first against a left-handed pitcher. Against Garrett, however, it was Thames's third homer in less than two full seasons.

Then, of course, there's Thames's career success against the Reds. The homer was his 13th in 20 games against them, with 10 coming last season, and his sixth over that span at Great American Ball Park.

"Here, I’m not really thinking about, ‘OK, it’s the Reds. I’m going to get some hits!’ It’s the pitcher, what does he throw?" Thames said. "Obviously in this park, the ball will travel a little bit, so that’s nice.

"But for me, it doesn’t matter if it’s the Royals or the Yankees or the Reds – I just want to have the same approach going in every day."

Counsell provided a succinct summation of his two sluggers' nights.

“It’s almost like you’re not surprised by Aggie. He’s been such a tough at-bat," he said. "Eric’s blow was the big one, man. We were down there, and Garrett has been really good this year.

"Eric has had a little success against him in the past, so it was a huge hit."

Guerra (4-5) wound up gutting out six innings before handing the game over to the bullpen, beginning with Taylor Williams.

He worked around a leadoff walk to record a pair of outs in the seventh, and Jeremy Jeffress followed by closing out that inning and then striking out the side in the eighth before Corey Knebel shut the door in the ninth for his eight save of the season.

"We had a lot of guys do a lot to contribute," Counsell said. "Brox made a good catch. (Orlando) Arcia had some nice at-bats. (Eric) Sogard had a nice at-bat. We got some production, and then the bullpen was outstanding.”