Harrison struggles continue as Brewers drop series to Reds

Cincinnati, Ohio - September 4, 2026 - The Milwaukee Brewers faced another disappointing series defeat to the Cincinnati Reds, marking the fifth time in the past month they failed to secure the final game of the series. With the playoffs approaching, the Brewers' recent struggles are raising concerns among fans and the team itself.

Kyle Harrison was expected to provide relief and length to the bullpen, following his poor performance in one of his worst starts of the season. However, Harrison struggled early, allowing a lead-off double by Dane Myers, followed by an Elly De La Cruz walk. Tyler Stephenson's drive-in single put the Reds ahead 1-0. Three base-running errors in the top of the second inning extended the Reds' lead to 3-0.

Harrison's performance deteriorated further in the bottom of the third, allowing a walk and driving in the Reds' fourth run. Jake Bauers hit a home run to cut the Reds' lead in half, but the Brewers' offense struggled to maintain pressure. De La Cruz's powerful performance, including his 23rd home run of the season, extended the Reds' lead to 8-6 in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Brewers' bullpen faced additional pressure as the Reds held strong in the bottom of the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. The final blow came when the Reds drove in three runs in the top of the eighth, ultimately sealing the game with a 9-7 victory. This loss marks the Brewers' first defeat to the Reds since the end of the 2025 season.