CINCINNATI — If there have been any worries after the Cubs scored a mixed three runs over two video games (in Game 2 of Friday’s doubleheader and Saturday night time), Chicago put them to relaxation on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
The Cubs discovered themselves in a slugfest with the Reds early within the collection finale, however Chicago broke it open within the prime of the eighth inning, surging forward to a 15-7 win over Cincinnati to earn a cut up of the collection.
“We are in control of our own destiny,” Cubs supervisor David Ross stated. “We have San Francisco, who is right there, Arizona is coming. All these teams are around us, and we’re going to get a chance to play [them]. Milwaukee is on the back side of the month. They’re all important right now. I try not to emphasize [it] too much, but today’s win was big.”
Even although Chicago was on the street, the confines felt pleasant. Legions of Cubs followers have been available, and the roar of the gang confirmed how a lot the victory meant to them, particularly within the eighth inning.
With the sport tied at 5-5, Chicago got here to bat and scored 4 runs earlier than recording its first out. Reliever Derek Law began the inning for the Reds and allowed three straight hitters to succeed in base, leaving the sport with the bases loaded. In got here nearer Alexis Díaz, who has been lights out for many of the season. But Díaz didn’t fare any higher than Law, permitting a two-run single to Nick Madrigal to interrupt the tie. Madrigal swung at an elevated fastball, lining it off the mound and into heart area.
“I’m just looking for a pitch to hit,” Madrigal stated. “I looked back at the replays and [the pitch] was a lot higher than I thought it was. … I saw it [well]. In that moment, I was trying to get the ball in the outfield. … I was looking for something up. I was able to get the barrel on it.”
After pinch-hitter Miles Mastrobuoni reached on a throwing error by Díaz to load the bases once more, Mike Tauchman singled to proper area, scoring Jeimer Candelario and Madrigal.
“There were two great pitches that I threw, and they got hits on it. … That’s just how baseball works,” Díaz stated by interpreter Jorge Merlos.
After Díaz left the sport in favor of right-hander Brett Kennedy, Chicago continued including to the lead. Cody Bellinger hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Mastrobuoni. Up subsequent, Dansby Swanson doubled dwelling two runs.
“[I] just felt like they kind of just put some hits together and some stuff found the hole,” Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson stated. “[It] felt like it was just contagious for them that inning, and they capitalized on it.”
“We were back and forth early, and then the eighth inning came around,” stated Tauchman, who went 4-for-6. “Nick comes up with a huge knock. He’s been really good all year. That was huge.”
The Reds didn’t surrender simply, scoring two runs of their very own within the backside of the inning off right-hander Keegan Thompson. But Chicago acquired the runs proper again within the prime of the ninth when Candelario homered off Kennedy, who additionally allowed a two-run double to Ian Happ.
“Today was a back-and-forth game all the way. We were able to break out there and have a nice big inning,” Happ stated. “We probably haven’t had that in a week or more.”
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