Brewers' Aaron Ashby moves up all-time list in win over Reds

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Brewers' Aaron Ashby moves up all-time list in win over Reds

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Jul 2, 2026 12:11 AM ET

A win is a win, but a win is also a bizarre statistic for a relief pitcher. Doing his part to help his team win again on Wednesday night, Milwaukee Brewers left-hander Aaron Ashby earned another win.

Entering in the middle of what became a 4-2 Brewers win over the Cincinnati Reds, Ashby pitched 1.1 quality innings of work in place of starter Shane Drohan.

Aaron Ashby entered in the middle of a tie game and left with another win

Ashby allowed no runs and just one hit while striking out two batters. His efforts also coincided with the Brewers' lineup waking up enough to deliver two runs home in the bottom of the seventh inning.

William Contreras and Jake Bauers each picked up an RBI, and Milwaukee was able to then cruise to a win that completed the series in a sweep.

Ashby made MLB history with his latest win

Having claimed the win in consecutive appearances, Ashby's season has become historic. His 12 wins by July 1 place him in a tie for the second most victories by a relief pitcher before a team's 85th game of a season since 1900. Ashby is tied with former Pittsburgh Pirates stud Roy Face, who finished the 1959 season at 18-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 93.1 innings.

How does he do it pic.twitter.com/tpIcKgshPq
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) July 2, 2026

The only pitcher to tally more wins before his team played game No. 85 was Mace Brown — he also did it with the Pirates in 1938. Brown would finish that campaign going 15-9 with a 3.80 ERA in 51 trips to the mound. It was the only All-Star season of his 10-year career.

Ashby is on track for one of the winningest years for a reliever ever

At his current pace, Ashby is well on his way to surpassing the final record for both Face and Brown. He's now 12-1 in just 51.1 innings, having already soared past the five wins he set as a new career high last season.

He also carries a 3.16 ERA with 70 strikeouts and a 1.34 WHIP.

But while making unique history has its perks, Ashby stockpiling wins means the Brewers are at the top of the standings. Now at 53-31, Milwaukee holds the second-best record in all of baseball and a 5.5-game lead ahead of the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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