The Cincinnati Reds erased a one-run deficit and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-3 on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Great American Ball Park, with home runs from Elly De La Cruz, Tyler Stephenson, and Matt McLain powering the comeback. Three Reds hitters went deep against a Milwaukee bullpen that couldn't hold the game together in the middle innings, while Cincinnati's relievers ultimately did just enough to close it out. Tony Santillan earned the win, Emilio Pagán recorded the save, and Aaron Ashby took the loss in a division game that stayed tight until the final out.

Reds Offense Breaks Through With Three Solo Home Runs

Cincinnati's offense scattered damage throughout the lineup. De La Cruz went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI. Stephenson matched him — 1-for-4 with a solo shot. McLain added his own homer, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. None of the three blasts came in bunches, but they added up, and that was enough against a Milwaukee staff that cycled through five pitchers after starter Dustin May exited in the fourth inning.

The Reds also got multi-hit games from Héctor Rodríguez (2-for-4), Sal Stewart (2-for-3), and Eugenio Suárez (2-for-4). Six different Cincinnati batters recorded at least one hit, and that kind of lineup-wide production made the comeback possible after Milwaukee built its early lead.

Andrew Abbott Keeps the Reds in the Game Early

Andrew Abbott started and gave Cincinnati four innings of work — 3 hits, 1 earned run, 5 strikeouts, and zero walks. That's a quality stretch from a starter who kept his pitch count clean and handed a workable game to the bullpen. The Brewers' only real damage against Abbott was contained, which meant Cincinnati was never chasing a big number.

Dustin May started for Milwaukee and was sharper early — 5 strikeouts through 3.2 innings — but he allowed 5 hits and 2 earned runs before the Brewers went to DL Hall. That's where the game began to turn.

Turning Point: Cincinnati Bullpen Holds, Brewers' Does Not

The Brewers had leads to protect and couldn't do it. Aaron Ashby allowed 3 hits and 1 earned run in his inning, and Grant Anderson gave up a hit and a run in the ninth. The back end of Milwaukee's bullpen simply ran out of answers when Cincinnati's lineup kept putting balls in play.

On the Reds' side, the bridge from Abbott to Pagán was bumpy but survivable. Tejay Antone was the best of the bunch out of the bullpen — a perfect inning with 3 strikeouts. Brock Burke added a clean frame with 2 strikeouts. Tony Santillan allowed 3 hits and 1 earned run in his inning but was credited with the win. Pagán navigated a two-hit, one-walk ninth to earn the save.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Elly De La Cruz: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Tyler Stephenson: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Matt McLain: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Héctor Rodríguez: 2-for-4
  • Sal Stewart: 2-for-3
  • Eugenio Suárez: 2-for-4
  • Andrew Abbott: 4.0 IP, 5 K, 1 ER, 0 BB
  • Tejay Antone: 1.0 IP, 3 K, 0 ER
  • Emilio Pagán: Save (1.0 IP, 1 ER allowed)

What's Next for the Reds

Cincinnati picks up a division win against Milwaukee in what remains a meaningful stretch of the 2026 regular season. The Reds and Brewers are a divisional rivalry, and every game between them carries direct standings weight. Cincinnati will look to carry this momentum into their next contest as the calendar pushes deeper into September.