Reds’ Suarez nearly hits bird with warning track hit

June 29 (UPI) — Cincinnati Reds third baseman Eugenio Suarez almost hit a bird when he smacked an RBI double during a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Suarez brought in the runs in the bottom of the first inning of the 6-4 loss Thursday at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Jose Peraza led off the bottom of the inning with a solo shot for the Reds.

Tucker Barnhart reached base on a double in the next at-bat, before Joey Votto flew out to left field and Scooter Gennett was fanned for a strikeout.

Then Suarez stepped in to face Brewers starter Junior Guerra. The righty threw a ball on his first offering, before Suarez fouled off a 94 mph fastball. Suarez then belted a 93.9 mph fastball on a line drive to center field.

The baseball cruised toward the warning track, where it came very close to hitting a bird that was lounging in the dirt. The bird appeared to be OK, as it flew away after the close call.

Milwaukee tied the National League Central bout in the third inning, before the Reds went ahead 4-2 in the bottom of the frame. Milwaukee took a 5-4 edge in the seventh frame on Eric Thames’ three-run homer. Eric Sogard plated the game’s final run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning.

Suarez went 2-for-4, with an RBI, a run scored and a strikeout in the loss. He is now hitting .304 on the season with 16 home runs and a National League-leading 59 RBIs.