CINCINNATI -- Homer Bailey's start last Sunday in San Francisco was a tight 1-0 affair for eight innings before the Reds came up with three runs in the ninth to beat Tim Hudson and the Giants 4-0. Saturday was a reversal of roles for Bailey and the Reds against Milwaukee.
Bailey allowed the Brewers just a single run in the first inning but it was enough as Matt Garza pitched his first shutout in four years in beating the Reds 1-0 at Great American Ball Park. Garza gave up two hits and four total base runners as the Brewers won for just the third time in nine games against the Reds this season.
It was the 10th time the Reds have been shut out this season, including three times this week. It was the second time this week the Reds have lost game 1-0 and the fifth time it's happened this season.
They were shut out 11 times all of 2013.
So while Garza was certainly dominant on Saturday, the offensive shortcomings this week are worrisome especially with the first-place Brewers in town. The Reds were among the National League's top offensive teams in June. They led the NL with a .327 batting average with runners in scoring position in the month but have cooled considerably this first week of July. They've scored just six runs in their last five games, four of them losses.
"Obviously you want the results. They've been there before and I'm confident they will be again but, yeah, it's frustrating," said right fielder Jay Bruce. "You can't fall for it. You can't let it start affecting future at-bats. Past at-bats are in the past. We're all working together here so we'll come out (Sunday) and finish up the series."
Milwaukee snapped a four-game losing streak and regained an seven-game advantage over the Reds, who are in fourth place in the NL Central.
"Hats off to Matt Garza. I guess I know what Tim Hudson feels like now," said Bailey. "I've been picked up by our offense so much this year, so it kind of came back around this time. I have a lot of faith in our offense. They've been supporting me all year. Is it frustrating? Of course it is but that's just the way it goes sometimes. It's uncontrollable and there's not a whole lot I can do about it."
Saturday was just the second time in 18 starts by Bailey this season that they've failed to produce at least three runs. They've scored at least four runs in 12 of his starts and eight times scored five or more runs. Early in the season he had issues with holding leads the offense had provided him. Saturday he and the defense kept the Brewers off the board after the first inning.
The offense just wasn't able to crack Garza, who entered the game with a career record of 1-3 against the Reds and a 5.45 ERA in seven starts. The Reds scored five runs on seven hits in seven innings against him in his only previous start against them this season, although only one of those runs was an earned run.
Garza was perfect through the first four innings before Brandon Phillips led off the fifth inning with a single to center field. Bruce ripped a shot that had the makings of a double into the right field corner except first baseman Mark Reynolds snasred the line drive and easily doubled up Phillips, who had no chance to get back to the bag in time. The ball actually broke the webbing of Reynolds' glove and forced him to get a replacement mitt but it was part of Bruce's 0-for-3 day that extended his hitless streak to 23 at-bats.
Zack Cozart had a one-out double in the sixth inning but Garza struck out Bailey and Billy Hamilton to strand him there. Cozart was the only Reds runner to reach second base. Hamilton has now struck out 11 times in his last 25 at-bats covering six games.
Garza's performance was only the 19th complete game shutout in regular season play in GABP history, and just the seventh by an opposing pitcher. Pittsburgh's Charlie Morton was the last one to accomplish the feat, beating the Reds 5-0 on May 18, 2011.
"Garza, when push comes to shove, should be the story," said manager Bryan Price. "He was outstanding. I've seen a lot of him and that's as well as I've seen him throw. He was challenging a lot of our guys with fastballs and making good pitches with it."
Tip the cap to Garza. He deserves it. But the Reds need to rediscover their June offense sooner than later if they don't want to lose touch with the Brewers and the rest of the division.
