Reds’ loss follows familiar script

The first inning was a bad sign for the Reds.

Jesse Winker started the game with a drive over the head of Brewers center fielder Chrisitan Yelich, and Winker ended up at third when Yelich mishandled the ball. But then: • Jose Peraza grounded out to third.

• Joey Votto walked on four pitches.

• Adam Duvall grounded back to the pitcher.

• Scooter Gennett grounded out to second.

• Winker ended the inning where he started: on third base. Votto was stranded on second.

And that, basically, was the ballgame.

“In that situation, you just need a groundball to score a run, you know?” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “We have to appreciate runs. Look, everybody is trying. There’s no accusation here. Everybody here is completely invested in improving and getting better. But we have to take the small things.

“Taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning would be a really nice thing, and working with leads. It’s not like guys aren’t trying, but we have to be more productive in those opportunity to score some runs.”

The Reds are hitting .220 and slugging .319 as a team. They hit .253 and slugged .433 last year.

The pitching, meanwhile, has been good enough to win lately. The bullpen, in fact, has allowed only one run over 15 innings in the last six games.

But one mistake by a young pitcher has cost the Reds the game two days in a row.

Right-hander Tyler Mahle allowed a leadoff single to No. 8 hitter Jeff Bandy to start the third. After a failed sacrifice by pitcher Zach Davies, Mahle fell behind Thames 1-and-0. The next pitch was an 86-mph slider, and Thames hit it out for his seventh homer of the year.