The Reds traveled to Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday for a 3 game series against the Cubs.
Game 1:
Game 1 saw Graham Ashcraft duel against Cubs righty Javier Assad. Ian Happ would take Ashcraft deep in the bottom of the 2nd on a 2 run shot, Happ’s 6th of the season, giving Chicago a 2-0 lead. The score would remain the same up until the top of the 4th. After Steer and Fraley reach, Tyler Stephenson singles to right, cutting the score down to 2-1 Cubs. Martini would follow up with a single to center, scoring Fraley, tying the game 2-2. In the bottom of the 4th Jonathan India would make a spectacular play defensively, sliding to his right and throwing to 3rd, catching the runner off guard and resulting in a rundown and the runner being tagged out. After the Cubs regain the lead, Santiago Espinosa would hit a 2 run pinch hit bomb, giving the Reds the lead in the 7th, 4-3. TJ Friedl would give the Reds a much needed insurance run, slapping a single to left field that would score Jacob Hurtubise. Alexis Diaz would struggle in the 9th. With one out in the inning and runner on the corners, Seiya Suzuki hit a ball into the corner that would score Pete Crow-Armstrong. Jacob Hurtubise and Elly De La Cruz would team up on a phenomenal defensive relay, gunning the runner at home plate, still a 1 run game. Cody Bellinger later lined out in right field, giving the Reds a 5-4 win. Reds relievers would need to pitch 4.2 innings in this one, with Ashcraft only going 4.1 innings.
BOX SCORE STANDOUTS:
Tyler Stephenson: 2-3 BB, RBI
Santiago Espinal: 1-1 PH HR
Jonathan India: 1-3 BB, R
The Reds look to lock up the series with a win on Saturday night.
Saturday’s Probables:
Justin Steele
Hunter Greene
Game 2:
Saturday saw a lengthy rain delay, postponing the start time of the game by 3 hours and 20 minutes. Hunter Greene would be on the mound for the Redlegs versus Justin Steele for the Cubs. The Reds would score first on a three run error made by Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki on a pop up to right field in the 2nd inning. Stuart Fairchild would hit a single that would score the runner from second. Reds lead 4-0. Bottom of the 2nd, Seiya Suzuki would make up for his mistake in the field with a Grand Slam, tying the game at 4. The next inning would see the Reds fail to score a runner with the bases loaded. In the bottom of the 3rd, the Cubs would take the lead off a 2 run single by Nico Hoerner, it’s now a 5-4 game. In the 4th, Jeimer Candelario would single in Stuart Fairchild, but Elly De La Cruz would be called out at 3rd after review showed the tag stayed on as his hand came off before his leg touched the base. After Fernando Cruz got out of a jam in the 7th, the Cubs would take the lead again on a 2 run home run by Dansby Swanson in the 8th. Cubs now lead 7-5 and that’s where the score would finish. Cubs win on a soggy Saturday night, tying up the series 1 game each. Hunter Greene wasn’t great tonight, but he wasn’t bad either. His final line would be 6 innings, 3 hits, 5 earned runs, 5 strikeouts, 5 walks. The Reds hope to get the series win on Sunday afternoon.
BOX SCORE STANDOUTS:
Spencer Steer: 3-5
Jeimer Candelario: 2-5 RBI
Fernando Cruz: 1IP 1H 2K’s
Sunday’s Probables:
Nick Lodolo
Ben Brown
Game 3:
Sunday would see Nick Lodolo take on Ben Brown. Lodolo would get out of a jam with 2 runner on in the 1st inning. In the top of the 2nd, Jonathan India would hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Jake Fraley. TJ Friedl would later hit a 3 run home run, his first of the seasons, that would give the Reds a 4-0 lead. The next inning, Jake Fraley would hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Candelario, Reds now lead 5-0. The Cubs would score 1 run in the 5th and the 6th, as that’s what the score would end up being. Alexis Diaz struck out Seiya Suzuki in the 9th, closing the door on the series for the Reds. Lodolo looked sharp Sunday, his final line would end up being 6 innings, 7 hits, 2 earned runs and 3K’s. TJ Friedl gets his first home run of the season after a few stints on the IL delayed his season.
BOX SCORE STANDOUTS:
TJ Friedl: 1-5 HR 3RBI
Jeimer Candelario: 2-4 R
Jake Fraley: 3-3 RBI, R
Alexis Diaz: 1IP, BB, K
The team travels to Coors Field to take on the Colorado Rockies. Andrew Abbott is slated to start against Ryan Feltner for the Rockies. Abbott looks to get back to his May form, as his last start was a struggle, compared to his previous. The last time the Reds were in Coors, we saw our first glimpse into the future, with Matt McLain and Brandon Williamson making their Major League Debut’s. Hopefully we’ll get a similar result this time around.
Follow me on X for my in the moment thoughts on everything Reds and Reds MiLB https://twitter.com/RICKYL0GAN
WE LIKE SPORTZ SHOW 