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The Short Version: Cincinnati scores seven runs in the seventh inning, turning a 6-1 deficit into the club’s seventh consecutive win. Oh yeah, and they also swept the stupid Cubs. Let’s just enjoy that for a moment, shall we?

Final R H E
Chicago Cubs (42-33) 6 10 0
Cincinnati Reds (32-45) 8 11 1
W: Stephens (1-0) L: Strop (3-1) S: Iglesias (13)
FanGraphs Win Probability | Box Score

The Good
–It’s all good.

–Jesse Winker had a pinch-hit three-run homer that really started the fireworks for the ol’ Redlegs.

But it was really a team effort: Scott Schebler had a single and two walks in the leadoff spot. Joey Votto doubled in a run, to go along with a walk. Jose Peraza walked, singled, scored two runs and drove in another. Tucker Barnhart singled, walked, scored one run and drove in one more. Adam Duvall doubled and scored a run.

–Amir Garrett struck out the side in the eighth, and looked flat dominant in the process (except for that one little double off the fence in between). Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

–Michael Lorenzen hit a pinch-hit home run. It’s the second consecutive day that a Reds pitcher has homered.

–Former University of Virginia Cavalier Kyle Crockett pitched a perfect inning. He has been the most effective Reds reliever this season.

The Bad
–Sal Romano pitched scoreless baseball through four innings. The fifth inning — and third time through the Cubs lineup — jumped up and bit him. Final line: 5 IP, 5 ER, 8 H, 6 K, 1 BB. He’s getting closer, but not quite there yet. He’s a young pitcher, you know. Sometimes they’re inconsistent.

Not-So-Random Thoughts
–Unbelievable. That’s seven wins in a row, and 10 of Cincinnati’s last 12. Will they ever lose again?

–First four-game sweep of the Cubs since April 1983. It’s their longest winning streak since 2012, which was also the last time the Reds won the National League Central division.

–Down 6-1 as the game headed to the bottom of the seventh, it appeared that the Reds were going to see their winning streak ended in meek fashion. Not so fast, my friends. Scooter Gennett led off with a single and Adam Duvall followed with a double. Jose Peraza singled home a run, then pinch-hitter Jesse Winker hit a three-run homer that got the Reds to within 6-5, and pumped a little excitement back into Great American Ball Park.

But the fightin’ Redlegs weren’t finished yet. Billy Hamilton single. Scott Schebler walk. Tucker Barnhart RBI single to tie the game. Joey Votto double to give the Reds a lead. All before they recorded a single out in the inning.

Later, with two outs — after Scooter had been intentionally walked to load the bases — Peraza walked to give the Reds an 8-6 lead. What an inning.

–Jose Peraza has reached base safely in 23 consecutive games. That’s the longest such streak by a Red this season.

–Jackson Stephens was, by far, the least effective Reds reliever tonight, surrendering a run in his one inning of work. But he got the win. Go figure.

–Cincinnati scored 31 earned runs on the Cubs in this series. That’s one more than Chicago had given up in their ten previous games.

–The Reds will need to go 49-36 the rest of the season to finish .500. They need to go 41-44 to avoid a 4th consecutive 90-loss season. Cincinnati needs to go 85-0 to break the MLB record with 117 wins in a season.

–It does the heart good to see sad fans wearing blue shirts at GABP.

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