Aug 16, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer (7) high fives shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Reds Manager Terry Francona Reacts to Another Blown Lead in Loss to Brewers

Originally posted on Cincinnati Reds on SI
By Greg Kuffner | Last updated Aug 16, 2025 10:38 PM ET

The Cincinnati Reds blew another late lead on Saturday night in the 6-5 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

The Reds had a 2-1 lead in the ninth inning. Emilio Pagan walked the first two batters he faced. After getting a pop-up, he forced a groundball to Matt McLain. McLain flipped the ball to Elly De La Cruz who tried to put some extra on it and the ball got by Spencer Steer and the Brewers tied the game.

"That's a hard one," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "You could see he really tried to amp up because that was probably the only way you were going to get him. That made it really tough for Spence to try to knock it down. That was a really difficult play."

After both teams scored a run in the 10th, the Brewers broke the game wide open in the 11th with a three-run home run off Joe La Sorsa.

The Reds have now lost 14 consecutive series against the Brewers. It was Milwaukee's 14th straight win.

"We haven't played clean and that was one of the points we talked about before the series because how fast they are and how aggressive they are," Francona said. "We haven't done that. That hurt us. Both nights."

The Reds are 64-60 and currently 1 1/2 games out of the third and final National League Wild Card spot.

You can watch Francona and Zack Littell's full comments below: