Milwaukee Brewers vs Cincinnati Reds Box Score on Jul 18, 2021

Corbin Burnes recovered from his All-Star Game loss by striking out 12 over a career-high 8 1/3 innings to help the visiting Milwaukee Brewers complete a three-game series sweep with an 8-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon.

After losing three of four in Milwaukee last weekend, the Brewers recovered coming out of the All-Star break by taking the final three games of a seven-game series between the two clubs and improved their lead to seven games over the second-place Reds.

Coming off his All-Star Game appearance in which he allowed four hits and two runs in two innings, Burnes (5-4) showed the kind of control that earned him his first All-Star selection, walking just one batter. Burnes allowed just five hits and came within two outs of hurling his first career complete game and the first nine-inning distance effort by the Brewers since Jimmy Nelson on June 18, 2017.

After the Reds loaded the bases against Burnes with one out in the ninth, Angel Perdomo recorded the final two outs to complete the sweep. Before this month, Burnes -- who threw a career-high 108 pitches -- hadn't pitched into the eighth inning.

While Burnes was in complete control of the Reds, his counterpart did not enjoy the same command.

Cincinnati starter Sonny Gray (2-5) had a rocky start to his first appearance since coming off the injured list with a strained right rib cage. He was tagged for six hits and five earned runs in 4 2/3 innings while taking his first loss since June 1.

Gray got ahead of leadoff hitter Jace Peterson with two strikes but hit him on the next pitch. Willy Adames later worked a walk to load the bases. Gray was two strikes ahead of Rowdy Tellez but came too far inside and hit Tellez to force in Milwaukee's first run. Gray got out of the first inning with just one run scoring but needed 26 pitches.

Gray settled down over the next three scoreless innings, but the Brewers knocked Gray out of the game in the fifth. With two outs and a runner on second, Gray walked Willy Adames and Rowdy Tellez. A two-run single by Tyrone Taylor and a two-run triple by Jackie Bradley Jr. drove Gray from the game as Milwaukee led 5-0.

Christian Yelich unloaded his sixth homer of the season in the seventh against Cionel Perez and Adames (No. 16) added a two-run shot in the ninth to pad the Brewers lead.

--Field Level Media