Reds 2 Cubs 1
I’ll be damned! The Comeback Kids did it again!
Trailing 1-0 in the 9th, the Reds scored twice to stun the Cubs for a second consecutive night, 2-1. TJ Friedl scored the winning run when the Cubs could not convert what would have been an inning ending DP on a rocket ground ball to shortstop by Hunter Renfroe. Elly De La Cruz had tied the game with a laser RBI single, his third hit, to score pinch-runner Harrison Bader.
It’s their MLB best 43rd come-from-behind win of the season and 9th walkoff win. They also clinch the season series/tiebreaker vs the Cubs (7-5). It was their MLB best 30th 1-run win (30-25). The Reds are now tied with the Giants and Diamondbacks for the 3rd Wild Card spot with 24 games remaining.
How it happened: Jake Fraley doubled to start the 9th. Bader pinch ran and stole 3rd with nobody out. Friedl walked. Spencer Steer was hit by a pitch to load the bases. De La Cruz lined the game-tying single (110.7mph) to score Bader. Nick Martini flew out for the first out. Renfroe then hit a smash to shortstop. Dansby Swanson made a diving backhand stab, threw to 2B for the force, but the Nico Hoerner throw to first was not in time and Friedl scored to win it. The Cubs challenged the call at 1B and lost. Clearly the right call.
New guys: Both new additions, Bader and Renfroe figured in the 9th.
Cubs 3B Jeimer Candelario had cracked a solo homer off Andrew Abbott to break a scoreless tie in the 7th.
Abbott: 6.1 IN, 4 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K, HR. 97 pitches. It was his longest outing since July 20. He took a shutout to the 7th before a the Canderlario homer.
Bullpen: 2.2 IN, 0 R….Farmer, Antone, Moll.
My head hurts: The Reds made four outs on the bases.
Steer was picked off/caught stealing in the 1st inning.
Elly De La Cruz was picked off 1B in the 2nd inning.
They had runners on 1st and 2B with no outs in the 6th: Fraley was doubled up on a Steer pop out. Friedl was thrown out stealing.
Offense: Elly 3 H, Steer 2 H.
Sweet: The Reds turned a 6-4-3 DP in the 8th with De La Cruz flipping the ball to Steer, who barehanded and made the turn,
The return: Tejay Antone pitched in a MLB game for the first time since August 24, 2021 (2nd Tommy John). 1.0 IN, K.