Photo: Getty Images
Reds 9 Cubs 0
In what was no doubt their best combined pitching and hitting performance of the season, the Reds ran roughshod over the Cubs Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field winning 9-0.
Hunter Greene fired six no-hit innings with 11 strikeouts, while the Reds offense piled up 19 hits, with nine different Reds contributing hits. Six different players compiled multi-hit days. The Reds offense did it all without aid of a home run.
Brilliant: Greene 6 IN, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 11 K, 110 pitches/67 strikes. The Cubs put just four balls in play, all in the infield.
No no-no: Christopher Morel singled on the first pitch of the 8th inning by Eduardo Salazar to give the Cubs their first hit of the afternoon.
Dealing with an ace: The Reds bludgeoned Cubs starter Justin Steele, who entered the game 6-1 with a 2.21 ERA. He gave up two runs in the 1st, one in the 3rd, and was done after allowing three more in the 4th inning. 3.2 IN, 10 H, 6 R.
Foursome: Four Reds collected three hits...Tyler Stephenson (2B, R, 2 RBI), Spencer Steer (3B, RBI, R), Stuart Fairchild reached base four times (2B, BB, R), Matt McLain reached base four times (BB. R).
2 x 2: Two hits for Kevin Newman (2 2B, BB, R)......Jose Barrero (R, RBI).
Multiples of.....That's two three hit games this week for Fairchild.....three straight multi-hit games for Steer, who also extended his career high hit streak to 9 games.... and three straight two hit games for Newman. Steer missed the cycle by a HR.
O-no-more: Curt Casali broke an 0 for 14 skid when he came off the bench with a 2-run 1B in the 9th.
Lucky charm: The Reds are now 11-5 when Casali starts behind the plate, winning 7 in a row and 8 of 9. He's caught all three shutouts this season. The team ERA was 3.45 entering the day.
Even Will Benson got into the act. He equaled his season hit total (now 2-for 26) when entered the game late and produced a 9th inning single.
What about me? Jonathan India (0-4) was the on day...the only one of 10 position players without a hit.
Shut it out loud! It's the first time the Cubs have been shutout this season.
Penned in: Salazar 2.0 IN, 0 R.....Fernando Cruz 1.0 IN, 0 R.