The Cincinnati Reds entered Friday's game at Wrigley Field 1-6 against the Chicago Cubs this season. They left with a 10-8 win and a statement.
Down 3-0 after three innings, the Reds chipped away before erupting in the sixth. Jose Trevino tied the game with a solo home run, Sal Stewart added an RBI single, and Tyler Stephenson launched a 399-foot home run to center field to put Cincinnati ahead 7-3. The Reds scored nine unanswered runs in all.
According to ABC News, Stephenson's blast highlighted a five-run sixth inning that effectively broke the Cubs' back. TJ Friedl also homered for Cincinnati, giving the Reds four home runs on the night. Stewart finished with his 29th homer of the season, along with a single, a walk, two RBIs, and two runs scored.
The Cubs' bullpen absorbed much of the damage. Reliever Trent Thornton, who had not allowed a run in August and had given up just four earned runs over his previous 26 appearances dating to mid-June, took the loss. He surrendered five runs on four hits and a walk while recording only two outs. The loss extended a difficult stretch for Chicago's bullpen, which had already blown two saves during the team's recent West Coast road trip.
Chicago attempted a comeback in the eighth inning. Seiya Suzuki hit a run-scoring double, and rookie Pedro Ramirez followed with a three-run home run to close the gap to 9-8. The Cubs could not complete the rally.
Reds starter Rhett Lowder earned the win, giving up three runs on five hits with five strikeouts to improve to 6-8 on the season. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz had three hits, two RBIs, and a run scored. Five Cincinnati players finished with multi-hit games.
The win was significant in terms of playoff positioning. The Cubs enter the final weeks of the regular season leading the National League wild card race. Cincinnati had been swept in a four-game series in Chicago back in May and had struggled against the Cubs all year before Friday's result.
The two teams return to action Saturday with Cincinnati's Andrew Abbott scheduled to face Chicago's Kevin Gausman.
