Cubs lose 4-3 to Reds drop to fourth in NL Central
Notes: Dansby Swanson’s bat heating up, Jordan Wicks makes first relief appearance.
CINCINNATI – Over the last three days, the No. 2-5 spots in the National League Central standings have been completely rearranged.
Going into the Cubs’ four-game series against the Reds this weekend, the Cubs were holding onto second in the division, five games back of the Brewers. And the Reds were in last place.
When the Cubs fell 4-3 to the Reds on Saturday, however, it was their third straight loss. Dropping to a 31-34 record, the Cubs plummeted to No. 4 in the standings, just barely above the last-place Cardinals (30-33). The Reds took over as the sole owner of the No. 2 spot.
Andrew Abbott struck out the first two hitters of the game, but then found himself in trouble after Cody Bellinger single and stole second base. Dansby Swanson followed up with an RBI double to put Chicago up 1-0. Abbott then walked Ian Happ to put another man on, but he buckled down and got a fly ball to shallow left field to end the inning.
It didn’t take long for the Reds to get that run back. With two outs in the bottom of the 1st Jeimer Canderlio turned on a hanging curveball and sent it into the seats in right field for a solo blast that tied things up.
Andrew Abbott would get himself into and out of jams over the next two innings to keep the game tied up . In the bottom of the 3rd Cincinnati’s offense went back on the attack. Jonathan India walked to lead off the inning and TJ Friedl came through with a 2-run homer to give the Reds the lead.
Chicago once again put pressure on Abbott in the 5th when Dansby Swanson doubled and Ian Happ followed up with a 2-out walk. The Reds lefty then fell behind 3-1 to Mike Tauchman before firing a fastball down the middle. Tauchman hit it well, but he hit it to center field and left just enough room for Friedl to track it down on the warning track to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning Cincinnati padded their lead when Jonathan India picked up an infield single and took second base when the throw from Patrick Wisdom sailed out of play. Will Benson laid down a bunt to move India to third and then the Reds second baseman would score on a groundout to make it 4-1.
The Reds went to their bullpen to begin the 6th inning and the Cubs got to Emilio Pagan for a run after a single from David Bote and a double from Yan Gomes that cut the lead to 4-2. Two innings later Fernando Cruz took over after Sam Moll tossed a perfect inning. Cruz gave up a 1-out single and a 1-out double to put two men in scoring position. Pete Crow-Armstrong grounded out but both runners moved up and made it a 4-3 ballgame and had the tying run 90 feet away, but Patrick Wisdom ended the inning with a fly out to left field.
Cincinnati handed the ball to Lucas Sims for the 9th and he began things by walking Christopher Morel. Cody Bellinger grounded into a force out, but then Dansby Swanson singled to put runners on the corners with one out. That was enough for manager David Bell and he called on Justin Wilson to take over for Sims. He would get Ian Happ to pop up in foul territory and Tyler Stephenson made a sliding catch near the Reds dugout to record the second out of the inning. A few pitchers later Wilson got Mike Tauchman to hit a grounder to Spencer Steer at first base to end the game.
