A second inning of Burke Badenhop proved to be a bridge too far. With Aroldis Chapman resting peacefully in Savelandia, the Cubs got back-to-back hits in the bottom of the 11th inning to plate the winning run.
Reds 1, Cubs 2 | FanGraphs Data | Mustaches Take Over City
Anthony DeScalfani continued his strong first season in a Reds uniform shutting out the Cubs for six innings. After working out of a first inning bases-loaded situation, he cruised to the seventh inning. David Ross led off the seventh with a double down the left field line. After a bunt moved Ross to third. DeSclafani battled Addison Russell, who walked after a seven-pitch AB. Bryan Price removed his starting pitcher who had thrown 112 pitches. DeSclafani struck out five and walked two. Reliever Ryan Mattheus gave up a Dexter Fowler fly ball to right field that was deep enough to score Ross. After a strange series of events, including a replay-reversed HBP call, Manny Parra struck out Anthony Rizzo to end the inning.
Jay Bruce made two outstanding defensive plays in right field. In the first inning, he made a running catch in the corner, robbing Dexter Fowler of a lead-off extra-base hit. Even better, in the fifth inning he laid out on a sharp, deep line drive to take a sure run-scoring hit away from Anthony Rizzo. Comment from an unlikely source: “Boy, he is something with that glove.” (Marty Brennaman)
When J.J. Hoover can spot his curveball like tonight, hitters have no chance against him. Hoover struck Kris Bryant out on what might have been the best pitch thrown by a Reds pitcher all year. Hoover pitched two tight innings, extending his streak of not being scored on to 24 appearances, dating back to April 21.
The Reds scored their only run in the sixth inning. Billy Hamilton followed his double down the left field line with a steal of third. He scored on a bloop single by Brandon Phillips.
Phillips would be cut down on the next play at home plate. He was trying to score from first on a double by Joey Votto. It was a familiar, questionable decision by 3B coach Jim Riggleman to send BP considering there were no outs and SuperTodd Frazier coming to the plate.
The Reds loaded the bases in the ninth with no outs. But Brayan Peña popped out, Eugenio Suarez looked at strike three and Kristopher Negron flew out. They also missed an opportunity in the 11th with Suarez and Negron at the plate. If you think the problem has to do with RISP batting average and not Peña, Suarez and Negron, you’re missing the big picture.