'We don't panic': Suárez's blast tops Brewers

MILWAUKEE -- Eugenio Suárez has not had a first half he'll want to spend much time remembering. But the Reds’ third baseman can spend his All-Star break smiling about the biggest hit of his season.

In the top of the ninth inning against Brewers All-Star closer Josh Hader, Suárez crushed a 2-0 fastball to the opposite field. When it landed in the second deck of seats beyond the right-field wall, he had the game-winning home run for a 4-3 Reds victory over Milwaukee on Saturday at American Family Field.

"So far, I think this was the best at-bat that I’ve had this year," Suárez said. "My thought was, 'Don’t let him beat you, be on time, put your best swing on it.' I think he missed that fastball right there and I got it very good. It was a big moment for me and for the team."

Second-place Cincinnati, which inched to five games back in the National League Central race, can take the four-game series with another win Sunday.

The left-handed Hader came into the game with a 3-0 record and 0.78 ERA with only one homer allowed -- which came on Wednesday vs. the Mets. Suárez is batting .177 on the year -- which is the third-worst average among qualified hitters in the big leagues. But he also has 18 homers.

"The team is just thrilled for Geno," Reds manager David Bell said. "It was a game-winner and it came against one of the best in the game. He deserves it. He continues to stay with it, be a great teammate, support his teammates no matter what's going on. For him to be able to come through and contribute like that to a win, everyone enjoyed that one."

Suárez has three career homers vs. Hader, the most of any player. This latest one left the bat at 108.2 mph, according to Statcast, and traveled a projected 418 feet.

"That was a huge swing. That’s going to be remembered the rest of the year," Reds second baseman Jonathan India said. "Geno has that power, and it’s scary when he gets a hold of one."

It was a game full of whiplash moments. With a 1-0 lead, Brewers starter Freddy Peralta had a no-hitter through the first five innings. In the top of the sixth, Peralta hit the leadoff batter -- India -- with a pitch. Jesse Winker ended the no-hit bid with a single to the left side and reached without a throw.

The following batter, Nick Castellanos, lifted a 3-2 pitch from Peralta high and deep to left field for his 18th homer of the season and a 3-1 Reds advantage.

"[Peralta] is a great pitcher and that’s why he’s an All-Star. But we just battled," India said. "That’s what we know how to do. We don’t panic. We’re just moving on to the next guy and good things happen when we get on base."

Then the game only got wilder.

In the bottom of the sixth against Reds starter Vladimir Gutierrez, Christian Yelich led off with a bunt on the grass between the mound and third base. Gutierrez made a rushed throw past Joey Votto at first base that kicked back off the railing to India, who was backing up the play. Yelich had a hit, but he made a brief step towards second base before stopping. India smartly applied the tag and first-base umpire John Libka was waiting. Libka called out Yelich, who was then ejected for arguing.

"That stuff happens," India said. "I was walking towards him and he was looking at me. I was like, ‘You might be out if I tag you here.’ It was one of those things. I wasn’t surprised. I guess he took a step and that’s what happens.”

Another Brewers chance to score was erased with a third out when Avisaíl García hit a double to left field in the sixth. Omar Narváez tried to score from first base but was nailed by a perfect relay throw from Winker to shortstop Mike Freeman to catcher Tucker Barnhart at the plate.

"When I looked up, I just saw the back of Narváez and just tried to throw it as hard as I [could]," Freeman said. "Fortunately, it was on the money. And Tucker, just an unbelievable tag, an aggressive tag to get in that situation, hold onto that ball. Just an awesome play to keep the game at two runs at that point."

Brad Brach could not hold down the two-run lead in the eighth when his 3-2 pitch to Tyrone Taylor was hit to left field for a game-tying two-run homer. With two outs, Narváez hit a double to put the go-ahead run on second base, but lefty Josh Osich took over and struck out Jace Peterson to keep the game even.

That set up Suárez, who entered the at-bat 3-for-23 on the road trip. None of that mattered, though, once he connected on Hader's fastball.

"At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how you do it, as long as we win, it’s good for us," India said. "Geno came through for us at that moment. He can do that for us. He’s one of those guys we want in that moment."