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Cubs 5 Reds 3
It was one pitch that seemingly unraveled Luke Weaver and did in the Reds Thursday night in a 5-3 loss to the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
Weaver got the first two outs in the 3rd inning. But a should-have-been 3rd out strikeout pitch was wild and bounced away from Luke Maile, allowing Nico Hoerner to reach 1st. Ian Happ then walked on four pitches. Cody Bellinger lined an RBI single to give the Cubs a 2-1 lead. Dansby Swanson walked. Christian Morel walked after being ahead 0-2 to force in a run 3-1. Jeimer Candelario walked to force in another run, 4-1. Weaver's pitch count went from 52 to 80 when the K/WP extended the inning.
The Reds lost 3 of 4 to the Cubs and went 4-6 on the road trip. They fall back in 2nd place (0.5) after the Brewers beat the Pirates (14-1) and the Cubs are closing rapidly in the Reds rear view mirror, two games back of 2nd place and 2.5 out of 1st place.
Trailing 4-2 in the 8th, the Reds scratched within one on a Spencer Steer solo homer. But the Cubs answered right back with a run off of Fernando Cruz in the bottom of the 8th to make it 5-3.
Weaver: 3+ IN, 4 H, 4 R, 4 BB, 5 K, 83 pitches/41 strikes. ERA 6.98.The whole Reds record with Weaver pitching is ‘cute’ and all…..in a dumb way….but in reality, I don’t know how Bob, Phil, Nick, David or anyone else in that organization would expect to be taken seriously if they keep running him out there.
Bullpen: Asked to get 15 more outs/allowed 1 R........ Moll 1.1 IN, H, 2 K......Duarte 1.2 IN.........Gibaut 1.0 IN...Cruz 1.0 IN, R.
Innings by Reds SP in series: 14.2 (3,1, 4.0, 4.1, 3.0)
Innings by Reds bullpen in series 18.1 (5.2, 4.0, 3.2, 5.0) *2.1 by Luke Maile
No waiting: Elly De La Cruz, back after a night off, wasted no time by hitting the 1st pitch of the game for a home run to center field. His 8th HR this season, 2nd to lead off a game. That's four homers in his last 10 games. He also walked
The Offense: CES 2 H, HBP, Benson 2 H, Steer 2 H, HR. Elly HR, BB. Eight Reds combined to strikeout 14 more times.....six batters struck out twice.
20/20? Jake Fraley stole his 20th base. He has 4 of the Reds last 5 steals. He has 15 homers. The last Reds OF to go 20/20? Shin Soo Choo in 2013 (21/20).
Chances aren't:
2nd inning: 2nd and 3rd, 1 out (CES 1B/Benson 2B) Maile popped out.... Elly BB to load ‘em.... Friedl sharp groundout.
6th inning: 1st and 2nd, 1 out (Steer 2B, CES HBP).....Benson K, Maile grounded out.
Heated: David Bell lost his mind over home plate umpire Derrick Thomas in the fateful 3rd inning. He was tossed and tossed his hat. Thomas was in over his head.
Relay team: The Reds cut down Nick Madrigal at the plate on a throw from Friedl to De La Cruz to Maile. It was not close.
How the Red scored
1st: De La Cruz leadoff HR, 1-0 Reds
4th: Maile DP ball scored CES, 4-2 Cubs
8th: Steer 412-foot solo HR (17), 4-3 Cubs