Let’s recap tonight’s titanic struggle….
FINAL
Chicago (NL) 4
Cincinnati 7
W: B. Arroyo (5-4)
L: S. Feldman (4-4)
S: A. Chapman (11)
BOX SCORE
POSITIVES
–The Cubs took a quick 3-0 lead, and you won’t be surprised to discover that Joey Votto got the Reds going with a fourth-inning homer. On the night, Votto was 2-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. He’s now hit in twelve consecutive games.
–Later in that five-run fourth inning, Ryan Hanigan slammed a three-run homer to give the Reds a lead they would not relinquish.
–Brandon Phillips put the game away in the eighth with a two-run homer on a 3-2 count, after fouling off five pitches in a row. BP was 2-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. That’s an 11-game hitting streak for Phillips.
–Zack Cozart had two hits.
–Bronson Arroyo was not particularly sharp (none of Cincinnati’s four pitchers tonight were very sharp, frankly), but Arroyo does get credit for a “quality start,” whatever that means. He allowed three runs on six hits and two walks in six innings to collect his fifth win.
NEGATIVES
–Jonathan Broxton struggled again tonight, giving up a run on two hits in the eighth inning. The run allowed the Cubs to cut the margin to one, but fortunately, Phillips’ homer later that inning gave Cincinnati a little cushion before the Chapmania began.
NOT-SO-RANDOM THOUGHTS
–Fourth straight win for the mighty Redlegs, and twelve wins in fifteen games. Cincinnati is now 12 games over .500. They didn’t reach 12 over for the first time last year until July 15. We’re ahead of schedule, gang!
–The Reds have won 18 of 23 against the Cubs dating back to the beginning of last season.
–Homer Bailey will face our old friend Travis Wood tomorrow.