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Cubs 11 Reds 4
U-G-L-Y.....
Tyler Mahle got in early trouble and never did get out of if Tuesday night at GABP, allowing a career high 8 runs over 4 innings as the Cubs pounded the Reds 11-4. The Cubs busted out the whoopin' stick for 11 runs on 15 hits, including two homers by Frank Schwindel vs Mahle.
The Reds collected four hits and two runs in their first at-bat, but went the next six innings without another hit or run until Tyler Naquin's homer in the 8th inning.
Unwilling to burn another reliever, David Bell called on Matt Reynolds to pitch the 9th inning. He hit two batters, allowing a hit and a run.
The Reds are now 12-30. One pace to go 46-116.
Mahle: 4 IN, 9 H, 8 R, 3 BB, 6 K, 2 HR, 103 pitches/60 strikes. ERA to 6.32. He threw a 25 pitch, 3 hit, 3 run first inning, including a two run homer to Frank Schwindel. He sidestepped a bases-loaded 2nd inning threat and was at 52 pitches. The Cubs tacked on two more runs in the 3rd inning for a 5-2 lead.
Things caved in during the 4th inning when the Cubs scored three more off Mahle and two off Luis Cessa to make it 10-2. Mahle threw a first pitch strike to 11 of 25 batters faced. He also committed a throwing error. Mahle is simply not taking steps forward as a 27-year old with 104 starts under his belt.
Early answer: Trailing 3-0, the Reds responded with two runs in their first at-bat vs Marcus Stroman, with singles by four of their first five batters...Tyler Naquin single, Brandon Drury single, Joey Votto RBI single, Tyler Stephenson RBI single. Mike Moustakas battled Stroman to a 12 pitch pop up and basically made it two innings of work at 37 pitches.
Shutdown: The Reds collected four hits in the first inning then none in the 2nd-3rd-4th-5th-6th-7th.
Leading man: Moved back to the leadoff spot for the first time since May 7, Tyler Naquin jacked his 5th home run in the 8th inning as part of a three hit, two run night. He has three homers in his last seven games.
Go figure: For all his struggles, Mahle solved Ian Happ, pounding him in on the hands and getting two strikeouts and a ground out. Happ went 0 for 5 with 3 K on the night.
Non-Cessa: 1.0, 3 H, 2 R. Last season w/Reds: 6 ER in 26.1 IN, 2.05 ERA. This season 11 ER in 17.2 IN, ERA 5.60.
Last season: 3 of 13 inherited runners scored. This season 5 of 12 inherited runners have scored.
Pen: Joe Kuehnel tosses two scoreless innings, striking out three. Jared Solomon pitched a clean 8th inning.
Position player alert: Matt Reynolds pitched the 9th inning: 1 IN, 1 H, 2 HBP, 1 R.
Good AB: Alejo Lopez battled for an eight pitch walk in the 8th inning.