Reds 8 Cubs 5
The Reds offense came to life, pounding out 12 hits and putting 8 runs on the board to snap a five-game losing streak and salvage a game in their weekend series vs the Cubs 8-5 at GABP Sunday afternoon. The Reds bullpen bailed out starter Justin Dunn with 5.1 scoreless innings headlined by a five out save by Alexis Diaz. The Reds rallied from deficits of 2-0 and 5-4
Got all of that one: Aristides Aquino blasted a 404 foot three-run homer (104.2mph) in the 2nd inning to give the Reds a 3-2 lead. It was his first HR since May 23. Three of his four homers this year have come vs the Cubs. That's 35 HR in 545 career ML AB.
Outburst: The three run homer by Aquino produced more runs than the Reds had scored in any of their previous five games (2-2-2-2-1). The Reds collected
12 hits....2 hits day for Jake Fraley, Alejo Lopez, Kyle Farmer, Donovan Solano, Austin Romine, Jose Barrero.
Clutch pen work: Five Reds relievers combined for 5.1 scoreless innings. Leading 8-5 in the 8th inning, Hunter Strickland loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. Alexis Diaz came on with one out and retired the next two batters, including a strikeout of Ian Happ, to end the threat. Diaz recorded five outs to pitch up the save.
Working it: The two starting pitchers combined to throw 52 pitches in a 25-minute opening inning. Cubs leadoff batter Ronnie Ortega worked a 13 pitch walk
vs Justin Dunn. But Dunn escaped without damage at 21 pitches. Cubs starter Keegan Thompson needed 31 pitches to navigate a scoreless bottom of the 1st inning. Thompson's day was done after reaching 70 pitches with two outs in the 2nd inning and trailing 3-2.
Dunn early: A less than inspiring out by Dunn. 3.2 IN, 7 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 3 HR. 72 pitches/48 strikes. Patrick Wisdom's two-run homer gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning. He gave up back-to-back homers to Yan Gomes and Christian Morel in the 4th inning.
Go ahead/add-on: Barrero ripped an RBI double to give the Reds a 6-5 lead in the 5th inning. Romine lined a two-run double to the gap for an 8-5 lead in the inning.
Relay team: The Reds perfectly executed a relay to cut down Ian Happ trying to score on a single to left field. The play went Albert Almora Jr. to Barrero to Romine. The Reds have 28 outfield assists this season, tied for the most MLB with the Guardians.
Reyes. Albert Almora Jr. to Jose Barerro to Austin Romine.
Photo: Getty Images