CINCINNATI -- Eugenio Suarez reached the 30-home run plateau for the first time in his career, and the milestone homer came at a clutch moment for the Reds third baseman. Suarez's two-run opposite-field drive in the fifth inning gave Cincinnati a two-run lead during its 13-12, 10-inning loss to the Brewers on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds were trailing, 5-3, in the fifth when they put runners on the corners with one out against Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta. The Brewers turned to All-Star reliever Josh Hader to shut down the rally, and it backfired. The first batter the left-handed Hader faced was the left-handed-hitting Scooter Gennett, who hit a hanging 1-2 slider off the right-field wall for a two-run double.
Next was fellow All-Star Suarez, who lifted a 1-2 fastball for a two-run home run and the lead. It was only the fifth homer allowed this season by Hader, who entered the game with a 1.52 ERA in 43 appearances.
Suarez became the fourth player in Reds history to hit 30 home runs in a season while primarily playing third base. He joins Todd Frazier, Deron Johnson and Tony Perez (twice).
The two-run homer gave Suarez 95 RBIs for the season, putting him two behind National League-leader Javier Baez of the Cubs. Suarez's clout also tied him for third in the NL in homers. His lofty numbers have come despite missing 16 games in April with a fractured right thumb.