After a disheartening loss on Friday night to open the series up against Chicago, the Reds were able to get the job done on Saturday in game two. Elly De La Cruz drove in four runs for Cincinnati and Andrew Abbott kept up the dominant start to his 2025 season as the home team topped Chicago 6-4 to even the series up.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Cubs (31-21) | 4 | 11 | 1 |
| Cincinnati Reds (26-27) | 6 | 9 | 0 |
| W: Abbott (4-0) L: Rea (3-1) SV: Pagan (13) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The Reds didn’t take long to get on the board in the bottom of the 1st inning. Santiago Espinal worked a 9-pitch walk with one out and three pitches later Elly De La Cruz hit a ball into the seats in right-center to make it 2-0. Austin Hays followed up with a single and then Gavin Lux worked a walk, running Colin Rea’s pitch count up to 27 as Spencer Steer came to the plate. He struck out on four pitches and then Will Benson lined out to end the inning, but Rea was already at 35 pitches.
Chicago would get a run back in the top of the 3rd inning when Justin Turner led off the inning with his first home run of the season. Andrew Abbott gave up some more hard contact in the inning but got away without any further damage.
Cincinnati would get a run in the 4th inning after Gavin Lux led off with a double, took third base on a wild pitch, and then later scored on a sacrifice fly by Will Benson. That put the home team up 3-1 as the game moved into the 5th inning.
After the Cubs went quietly in their half of the 5th, the Reds went to work against Colin Rea. Back-to-back singles by TJ Friedl and Santiago Espinal to start the inning were followed by a wild pitch to set up Elly De La Cruz with two men in scoring position. He fell behind 1-2, but a splitter at the bottom of the zone was up just enough for him to line the ball past a drawn in infield for a 2-run hit that made it 5-1. After stealing second base, De La Cruz would come in to score the club’s 6th run of the day on a 2-out single up the middle by Spencer Steer – a hit that extended his hitting streak to 12 games.
Chicago would put some pressure on Andrew Abbott in the 6th inning. Kyle Tucker led off with a single into left and then Seiya Sukuki battled for a 9-pitch walk. The Reds lefty buckled down and got a ground out and a strikeout, but Cincinnati called to the bullpen at that point. Graham Ashcraft came on with runners on the corners and got a lazy fly ball to Will Benson in left field to strand both runners and hold onto the 5-run lead.
When Ashcraft returned for the 7th inning the Cubs offense went back to work. Carson Kelly led off the inning with a single and Matt Shaw blooped a double into right field with one out to put two runners in scoring position. Chicago got a run on a ground out to first base by Ian Happ to get the visitors within slam range. Ashcraft would get out of any further trouble with a strikeout of Kyle Tucker that ended the inning.
Seiya Suzuki led off the 8th inning with a double against Tony Santillan. He would come around to score on a sacrifice fly by Pete Crow-Armstrong that cut the lead down to 6-3. Holding onto a 3-run lead entering the 9th,
Emilio Pagan took the mound for Cincinnati to try and pick up the save. The first pitch he threw was lined off of the foul pole for a homer that made it 6-4. Matt Shaw came through with a 1-out double down the left field line to bring famed Reds-crusher Ian Happ to the plate as the tying run. Pagan, however, struck him out on three pitches. Three pitchers later saw Kyle Tucker fly out harmlessly to right field to end the game with a Reds victory.
Key Moment of the Game
Elly De La Cruz coming through with a 2-run single in the 5th inning to turn a 3-1 game into a 5-1 game.
Notes Worth Noting
Andrew Abbott now has an ERA of 1.77 on the season in 40.2 innings pitched through his eight starts.
Elly De La Cruz drove in four runs. It was the 4th time this season he drove in at least four runs in a game. He had four RBI against Houston on May 11th, four against Pittsburgh on April 12th, and seven against Texas on March 31st.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds
Sunday, May 25th, 1:40pm ET
Ben Brown (3-3, 5.44 ERA) vs Nick Lodolo (4-4, 3.22 ERA)
Good win against the 1st place team. By the way Hinds is back in CF tonight. 🙂 Interesting neither Dunn or Hurtubise is in the lineup. Fraley hitting 2nd at DH.
I went to that Louisville game. Fraley was 0 for 4 and connected with a strong at bat to center field one time. Obviously very rusty.
OK, today’s monkey is off our backs.
Nice work, Westley. Sleep well. I’ll probably kill you in the morning.
I thought you were in NC, not retired in Patagonia living like a king…
Bullpen struggled but got it done. Abbott continues to have quality starts. Steer hitting streak still alive.
With a big enough lead don’t walk em. Just get the needed out before they get rough runs and that’s what the bullpen did. No sense making it more stressful than that. As long as none had (BS) after their name in the box score they did their job.
Bullpen not gonna be shut down every game. Today gave up 3 but Reds win.
Would like less drama though!!! LOL
Just a small thing I’ve noticed over the last week. Stephenson continues to get onbase in the latter stages of the game and Tito leaves him in there. I wish for several reasons they would pinch run. Immediate payoff is getting a faster runner that can actually steal a base or score from first. Two things Tyler Stephenson can’t do. In fact I was a little concerned watching him chug around the bases today on McLain’s 8th inning double. Last thing we want is the starting catcher to blow out a hammy running the basepaths. Just getting him some breathers is good in general to keep him fresh and healthy. Also why not take advantage of having 3 catchers. If Reds are up late and Stephenson gets subbed out on basepaths thats a great opportunity to get Wynns some playing time.
I wonder whether these management miscues are wrong criteria about the game or they miss the plays they have to execute. The pinch-run for Stephenson it seemed to me obvious since they have 3 catchers on the roster and just already sign a guy who can only run and play defense so when will be the right moment to pinch-run?
Beautiful
Andrew Abbott has been so impressive. Nice game Elly and a good win!
Nice to see Elly have a breakout game. These Cubs are in first place in the Division for a reason: They can hit ! Hit in the clutch, and hit with power. The Reds are going to have to pick it up a notch, and we have seen they are capable… Whatever happens we have to keep playing good ball.
I waa at the game. Probably 70 % cubs fans. This is definitely a 21st century phenomenom
I dont recall enemy fans packing riverfront or Crosley (yes Iam that old).
Not really sure if it is good or bad. If I were a
new reds fan i would likely never go back to a reds game again knowing you will be outnumbered by the visiting fans. Does this really help attendance numbers long term?
For at least the last 5 years, there always seems to be a lot of blue in the stands when they play each other. They fill their park, even when their team is not good. It’s discouraging, but the only way it’s going to change, is more winning than losing by the Reds. Maybe acquire some talent better than Joe and Hampson by the front office would move the needle some?
When does Hampson get to play? Looking forward to seeing our new team member!
I don’t remember Riverfront being a safe haven for Cubs fans until maybe the very late 90s? It’s embarrassing, but I’m sure Bob and the minority owners don’t care if Chicago Blue spends green money.
The Braves’ fans often outnumbered Reds fans at old Riverfront Stadium in the 1990s. They would do the obnoxious “Tomahawk Chop”. The Cardinals fans traveled pretty well in the early 2000s. But yes, the Cub fans take it to a different level. Attending Bengals games for 30 plus years, I am quite used to Cincinnati fans being out numbered at home.
As Mike K. points out, The Castellinis couldn’t care less. I’m sure Bob and Phil circle the Cubs series on the calendar each year.
Yep when you get 40,000 in the stands there isn’t any use to have giveaways like bobbleheads. Ol Bobby will hold on to those for another night.
It’s so much easier now for out of town folks to get tickets and Cincinnati is a great city to visit over a weekend (if the weather is perfect!). Anything that puts a million more butts in seats over a season is good for the Reds. That translates to about $30M-$40M extra for salaries. But it has to be consistent attendance. So thank, Cubs fans.
Winning would cure that. In the early 2010’s when the Reds were winning, Reds fans travelled well to Chicago.
Not sure about these days, but back in the late 90s and early 2000s (before GABP — so Riverfront/Cinergy), I went to a lot of Reds-Indians games, and Cleveland always had a very large contingent on hand.
I was at a Reds – Cubs game at GABP a few years ago where it was at least 50-50. The Cub fan sitting next to me said that many of the Cub fans who live in Indiana choose to see them in person in Cincinnati because the tickets were so much easier to get than Wrigley and, if taking in a weekend series, the accommodations were so much cheaper.
Let’s not make a problem where there isn’t any. Better to have forty thousand in the park rather than a lot of empty seats. I’ve been to games where conversations with opposing fans made for an interesting time. Money spent for tickets, accommodations and food help the local economy. When the Reds are a winning team, our fans travel also.
WGN and TBS made a lot of Cubs and Braves fans because you could always watch them play.
You would think that would spark some actual hurt pride with the Reds ownership enough so they can actually spend at least league average money to compete. It would be great if they could bring in large crowds like that on a regular basis. You have to spend to get.
Watching the Tigers Vs Guardians on fox. The announcers are putting me to sleep. LOL
That’s more like it. Do it again tomorrow.
Hey we are 1-1 in the Hampson era!
Speaking of. Why not give someone like Francisco Urbaez a chance than a retread like G Hampson. Urbaez has paid his dues. He has been in the Reds organization since 2021. He can hit (.283ba/.367obp/.776ops) and he has played everywhere in the field except catcher (though mainly a 2B and has even pitched…although not that great). He is 27 years old and should have been given a shot at that open utility spot. We used a 40 man slot for Hampson that we could have given Urbaez. I’m sure that was very disheartening to him. Should have given him his shot.
In case you’re wondering Urbaez has two hits so far tonight. He’s at 2B.
The Reds won’t be swept in this series at least and they have chance to win the series. By the way, Reds still hasn’t been swept this year.
To be honest, I’m impressed about how the Cubs are hitting. A lot of credits to Abbott holding them on 1 run through 5.2 IP.
The Reds scored 6 runs again although the pitching improved significantly today. Hope the offense keeps going on Ben Brown tomorrow who has an above 5.40 ERA and Lodolo stays solid.
I don’t know if Tito could think leaving McLain on the bench in one of the next games despite he got a double in his last AB today…
The Reds need Elly to explode as hitter and he could repeat often performances like he did today
Great is being good at something repeatedly and reliably. EDLC has been sparingly good. I don’t think his next step is being great but rather being good more often. If he can do that this year, that’s progress and maybe in a year or two he can be great.
Bengals didn’t make playoff with Burrow, Chase, and Higgins because they had a terrible defense. If Reds dont make playoff with Greene, Lodolo, and Abbott, it’s because they have a terrible offense.
Winning on Sunday and getting back to .500, again, would be great.
Since being recalled from Louisville, the Reds are 7-2 when Benson starts.
Just a random little tidbit for ya.
Yes, play Benson whether a lefty or a righty starts. We could be surprised.
We drew 5 walks to their 2. Guessing McLain has a week or less to prove he should stay at the big league level. Getting close to time to let him clear his head at AAA.
McLain had 2 hits in a game twice in the 4 games in March. He’s only had 2 hits in a game twice since, once in April, once in May. Only hit .121 in April, but is up to .195 so far in May. So, has improved a bit. But’d need to raise his June average another 70+ points to get to about league average, and would have to maintain that mark to salvage the season.
Hampton’s arrival may portend a clicking clock on McLain. Or maybe McL is in the clear till Marte or CES is available.
“Clicking clock.” Excellent, Jim. Trading convention (“ticking clock”) for alliteration.
Hampson not Hampton
See, this one is OK. The guy has been with us maybe 20 minutes now. This is not a McLain type spelling error no matter what Maui thinks
I don’t care (or even notice) speeling errors. I’ll leave that to the spell check nannies. I consider this a baseball forum not high school.
Reaganspad- You forgot your period after thinks or maybe it’s that time of the month for you.
Lowder will be out a while with an oblique strain. Looks like Abbott has adjusted to the bigs and is now the Reds’ second best starter but perhaps their most reliable one. A 2nd round pick, 53rd overall in ’21.
Hes been the most reliable starter for the Reds. Maybe he and Martinez. Hunter is most dominant WHEN HE IS ON.
Who would we rather have pitching a big game, Greene or Abbott? That is your best and most reliable starter.
Also, where Abbott has been very good, Greene has been better, in more innings — far fewer baserunners, combined with (or because of) better pitches.
Greene (49.2 innings)
WHIP 0.846
H/9 IP 5.8
HR/9 IP 1.4
BB/9 IP 1.8
K/9 IP 11.4
Batting Against
BA .177
OBP .228
SLG .359
OPS .587
Abbott (35 innings)
WHIP 1.114
H/9 IP 6.2
HR/9 IP 0.8
BB/9 IP 3.9
K/9 IP 11.1
Batting Against
BA .190
OBP .282
SLG .310
OPS .591
Rack this one up to a good problem to have.
I just dont see Mclain going to Triple A. When CES and Marte come back Hampson will be gone and I have to think Wynns will be gone. When Fraley comes back I would think Joe will be sent down if he has options left.
How in the world do you get Hampson right and McLain wrong?
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/05/royals-designate-luke-maile-for-assignment.html
Seems like the Reds would have tried to pick him up on the possibility of losing Wynns and put him in AAA as depth?
If they claimed him they would have had to put him on the roster just like Wynns.
Hmm Thanks for that. For some reason I was thinking they could just send him to AAA without a 40 man roster spot.
https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/reds_top_prospect_will_be_out_for_extended_time/s1_17615_42240162?utm_source=mb&utm_medium=email&mb_edition=20250525&mb_loc=right_h
Interesting line in this article about CES being the DH at Louisville on Sunday? Possibly an error?
“Christian Encarnacion-Strand was 0-for-3 in his start in the ACL Reds team in Goodyear, Arizona. He is scheduled to DH at Louisville on Sunday.”
He did not play Saturday out in AZ, so a travel day? Plus the AZ kids don’t play on Sundays.
Surprised this one got by you, Melvin. You don’t miss much!
Either way, we will soon find out.
If it was already out there I definitely missed it. 🙂
One thing I’m PRETTY sure about. Both Fraley AND CES can’t DH at the same time. haha
While we’re discussing it I just checked the pregame roster for the Bats. It’s just been updated and CES is on it.
All of the bench guys in Louisville are saying, “Great, another 40-man guy down here. We’re not playing for weeks.”
They’ll have to skip over one of the infielders and play four in the outfield.
And, it’s not as if they are going to promote the AA guys at the moment either. To do what, watch the 40-man guys?
Yeah. Dunn and Hurtubise already didn’t play yesterday.
Abbott continuing his trend of being a first half pitcher. Let’s hope he can sustain for a full season.
Cubs have a talented offense but man are they top-heavy.
Steer gets the day off looks like. Hope he’s not hurt because he’s finally starting to hit.
It’s Sunday! Got to get the retreads in the lineup. I’m surprised Hampson isn’t playing.
Yep. He’s been a major asset so far. 😉
So what is the current streak of Reds losing game 1, and losing the series?
Don’t ask. 🙂
Feels like infinity.