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Cubs 12 Reds 5
Well, about that bullpen.
Leading 3-1 into the 6th inning Tuesday night, David Bell asked for 11 outs from his bullpen. But after asking for and getting 15 outs from the bullpen Monday night, it was too big of an ask. The first seven Cubs reached and six scored in the 7th inning as the Cubs blew things wide open on the way to a 12-5 win at GABP. Buck Farmer allowed a 2B, BB, BB and three runs without recording an out in the inning. Reiver Sanmartin allowed two hits a walk and three more runs without recording an out. The Cubs added three more runs vs Joel Kuhnel in the 8th inning and one more vs Fernando Cruz in the 9th. After allowing one run in their previous three games and 11 innings, the pen surrendered 10 runs in 3.2 innings Tuesday.
The loss snaps the Reds three game win streak (3-2) and makes Wednesday afternoon's match up the rubber game of the series.
Luis Cessa: 5.1, 4 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 2 K, 83 pitches/51 strikes. He settled after a shaky first. Found trouble in the 5th with back-to-back walks that loaded the bases, but he escaped the jam. He started the 6th inning at 75 pitches and was done after a one out double.
Bullpen: Gibaut, Farmer, Sanmartin, Kuhnel, Cruz 3.2 innings, 12 H, 10 R, 8 ER, 3 BB....86 pitches
Quick response, again: The Reds answered the Cubs 1st inning run with one of their own....Jonathan India doubled, TJ Friedl bunted him to 3rd and Jake Fraley singled him home.
Dude! Friedl crushed a 378-foot homer (2) to give the Reds a 2-1 lead in the 3rd inning. He also slapped a single to left. He crashed into the wall in LCF on an attempted catch in the 7th inning...clearly shaken up...but he remained in the game.
Un. Real: Jason Vosler homered for the third straight game for the first time in his career.....a 444-foot blast! He has five hits, all extra base hits (3 HR, 2B, 3B).
In a pinch: Stuart Fairchild rocketed an 8th inning pinch-hit 2-run HR (401 feet).
That guy! Ian Happ reached base five times: 1B, BB, BB, 2B, 1B. He tied the game with an RBI double in the 7th.
You asked for them to be aggressive: Fraley was thrown out stealing. Wil Myers was doubled-up when he was running on a ball popped up in foul territory.
Mixed leather reviews: Kevin Newman made a sweeeeet backhand play deep in the hole at shortstop and two nice short hop plays.....then he bobbled an easy one for an error. Will Benson climbed the wall along the LF foul line and extended his mitt into the stands to match a catch. Spencer Steer stabbed a liner at 3B. India booted a ball in the fateful 7th.
Feeling for him: Benson is totally discombobulated..0 for 4, 3 K.....now 0 for 12 with 9 K. He also missed the cutoff man on a throw to the plate and allowed the potential tying run to advance to 2nd.
Streaker: Tyler Stephenson has hit in all five games.
Time of game 2:52
Wednesday: Hunter Greene vs Marcus Stroman, 12:40.