WRIGLEY FIELD - Even though the Reds bring up the cellar of the NL Central, it looks like they're tired of being the division doormat. With today's 10-2 win, they're 4-2 against the Cubs this season and are only 4 games under .500. (Their 24-28 record would currently put them in 3rd place in the AL Central...1 game ahead of the White Sox)
Kris Bryant left the game in the 6th inning after colliding with Jason Heyward on a fly ball to right center field. Heyward said he called for the ball but wasn't sure if Bryant did. Usually that's the center fielders ball. (The Cubs dodged a bullet as Bryant was cleared by the team doctors and made the road trip to Houston) "Miscommunication happens with everyday outfielders. It happens in our game and it's gonna happen again. Hopefully not soon but I don't worry about stuff like that," says manager Joe Maddon. Bryant was unavailable for comment after the game.
I know KB is a talented guy but I always feel uneasy when I see him playing the outfield.
Jose Quintana took the loss which drove his record to 4-4 after going 5.1 innings giving up 12 hits/6 runs (5 earned) walking 1 & striking out 2. Reds starter Tanner Roarke moved to 4-3 on the season & had the Cubs number striking out 9 hitters thru 5 innings.
The Cubs start a 6 game road trip with a 3 game set in Houston against the Astros Monday-Wednesday. They have an off day Thursday then resume play Friday-Sunday in St.Louis versus the division rival Cardinals before returning home for a 7 game home stand starting with a makeup game against the Angels on June 3rd.
Final Score - Reds 10 Cubs 2
Summary - The Reds got on the board first after back 2 back 2 back 2 back singles from Nick Senzel, Joey Votto, Eugenio Suarez & Yasiel Puig. Senzel scored on Suarez' single & Votto scored on an Jose Iglesias double play ball...Reds 2 Cubs 0. Cincy got another in the top of 3 as Senzel scored on a Suarez sac fly to make it 3-0. The Cubs threatened in the bottom of 3 after singles from #BigFolks Anthony Rizzo, #ELMago Javier Baez & #ILLWILL Willson Contreras but Rizzo was hosed at the plate on a throw from Reds center fielder Senzel to keep the Cubs scoreless. The Reds tacked on 4 in the top of 6 after Jesse Winker scored on a Kyle Farmer double to give the Reds a 4-0 lead. Curt Casali scored on a wild pitch, Joey Votto picked up a sac fly rbi & an E9 on Kris Bryant scored Nick Senzel to make it 7-0. The Cubs finally got in the scoring column in the bottom of 6 on a Contreras solo HR...his 12th of the year. The Reds got another run in the top of 8 as Suarez drove in Senzel on a sac fly to deep left field to give Cincy an 8-1 edge. #RAKINGSEASON continued for #ELMago as he hit his 13th HR of the year to make it an 8-2 ballgame. Victor Caratini made his first appearance on the mound and the Reds took advantage as Casali hit a 2 run HR to give the Reds a 10-2 lead and that was all she wrote!
Player of the game - Reds 3B Eugenio Suarez...2-3 3 RBI
Play of the game - Kris Bryant colliding with Jason Heyward in the outfield in the 6th inning. The Reds scored 4 runs in the inning.
Quote of the game - "They got us early...let's just flush this one and move on. We normally don't have sloppy play. I feel good about the way we've played all month besides today. It's how you bounce back." - Joe Maddon
Next game - 5/27 v Astros
Anthony Rizzo has the 3rd most RBI (460) in the league since the start of the 2015 season behind Colorado Rockies 3B Nolan Arenado & Seattle Mariners 1B/DH Edwin Encarnacion.