Photo: Getty Images
Reds 20 Cubs 5
The Reds pounded out 20 hits and piled on 20 runs to beat the Cubs 20-5 and gain a split in their four game series vs the Cubs at GABP Thursday afternoon. The Reds actually trailed 3-0 in the second inning. The offense was led by four hits from Kyle Farmer, who added two homers and drove in five runs, and four hits and two walks from Nick Senzel.
The Cubs turned to shortstop Andrelton Simmons to mop-up the 8th. He allowed the final five runs.
A 59 minute rain delay hit around 2:30 with the Reds lead 11-3 in the top of the 6th inning.
Bust out: Trailing 3-2 in the 3rd inning, the Reds sent 11 batters to the plate and exploded for 8 runs....without benefit of a HR. Everyone in the lineup scored in the inning with the exception of Kyle Farmer. Nick Senzel walked and also singled in the inning. The first five Reds reached vs Justin Steele...walk Senzel, single Brandon Drury, RBI double Tommy Pham double at 110.6 mph, walk Joey Votto, two-run double Tyler Stephenson, intentional walk pinch-hitter Tyler Naquin, two-run double Albert Almora Jr. off reliever Scott Effross, two-run triple Matt Reynolds, RBI single Senzel.
Finding a way: Hunter Greene certainly didn't have his best stuff, but he got through it. 5 IN, 7 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 6 K, 87 pitches/53 strikes. Kind of reminded me of a Jack Morris 'pitch to the score' performance. His best/most important inning was when he retired the Cubs 1-2-3 on eight pitches in the 4th inning following the eight run Reds outburst. He served up three homers, each of the solo variety. Cubs SS Nico Hoerner came off the IL and crushed a 98 mph fastball for a homer to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead in the 2nd inning, then it was Wilson Contreras (441 feet) and Ian Happ (383 feet) in the 5th inning.
Fast start: The Cubs scored first inning runs for the third consecutive game, putting two runs on the board vs Hunter Greene on a Frank Schwindel double.
It's the sixth straight game the Cubs scored first vs their opponent.
Harvesting hits: Kyle Farmer returned from missing a couple of games with back issues and had 3 H, 2 HR, T-career high 5 RBI. His first career multi-homer game. A 400-foot, 2-run HR to center and a 356 foot shot to left field.
Nice day: Farmer 4 H, 2 HR, 3 R, 5 RBI. Senzel 4 H, 3 R, 2 BB, RBI. Stephenson 3 H, 3 R, 2 RBI, Pham 2 H, 2 R, 3 RBI. Pham busted his tail to score from 2nd on infield single knocked down behind 2nd. Votto was the only Reds starter not to collect a hit, but he walked twice.
Drama: Oh yea, there are multiple moments being cataloged for the remaining meetings between these two teams. Contreras admired a HR earlier.
Joel Kuhnel dotted him in the shoulder to lead off the 8th. Cubs manager David Ross took exception and was ejected for the 2nd consecutive game.
Things escalated again in the 8th when Rowan Wick struck out Votto to end the 7th and words were exchanged with the bullpens beginning to empty. Cooler heads prevailed.
Bullpen: Hoffman 1.0, 0 R. Kuhnel 2.0, 0 R, Jarod Solomon 1.0, 0 R.
Help: The skies opened up in the top of the 3rd inning and umpires struggled to get Greene dry baseballs. Imagine being a hitter stepping in against Green at 100+mph AND a slick baseball.
Getting right: The Reds were 2-10 vs LH starting pitchers entering the game.
Rain delay re-play: Imagine turning on your TV during the rain delay and watching Nick Castellanos go 5 for 6 with 2 HR, 4 R, 4 RBI and homers by Eugenio Suarez and Tucker Barnhart in a 13-12 Reds win over the Cubs from May 2, 2021.