Cincinnati RedsvsChicago Cubs
CIN 7/CHC 5
Things to say
The Reds beat the Cubs 7-5 at Wrigley on Saturday night.
01
opener
Reds took it 7-5 up at Wrigley. Cincinnati just kept adding on, and the Cubs couldn't answer late. Solid road win for a team that's been buried all year.
02
key player
The Reds' heart of the order did the damage. Seven runs and none of it felt cheap, they were squaring balls up all night.
03
hot take
Cubs manager went to the pen way too early. You give up a two-run cushion like that in your own yard, that's on the skipper more than the arm.
04
deep cut
This is a Reds team 65-72 stealing one from a club fighting for the division. That's the game they'll point to in October if the Cubs miss by a hair.
05
exit
Getaway day tomorrow, so we'll see if the Cubs bounce back before the series wraps.
The recap
Reds walked into Wrigley as the road dog and walked out with a 7-5 statement win. Cincinnati kept chipping, and once they got into the Cubs' bullpen the runs came in bunches — Chicago's pen just couldn't slam the door on a getaway day.
The Cubs made it interesting late with a couple of runs to cut it to two, but the heart of the order never came through in the clutch. Cincy takes it and quiets a Wrigley crowd that showed up expecting a coronation.