The Cincinnati Reds look for some consistency after splitting their last eight games.
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“Crazy game”, Maddon said.
The Reds quashed that concern with three straight hits off Cubs starter John Lackey to start the sixth off, the first a pinch-hit single by Tyler Holt and last a three-run homer to center by Eugenio Suarez.
“Just a tough lineup”, he said. “And, to do that without having to get (Ben) Zobrist and Fowler involved was great. But the two-strike hits, I got to take care of those in a different way”. Trevor Cahill came on and promptly gave up back-to-back homers to Duvall and Scott Schebler to go ahead 9-3.It was the first time the Reds hit three homers in an inning since May 21, 2012.
“I don’t expect that”, said Arrieta, who will pitch against Milwaukee at Wrigley Field next week. “Winning’s the name of the game here. It’s been long enough for this organization”.
Arrieta carried that momentum into this season, as he now holds a 4-0 record with a 0.87 ERA, 26 strikeouts, and a 0.68 WHIP in 31.0 innings pitched.
The Reds will send Alfredo Simon to the mound for Sundays game, Simon is coming into the game off of right biceps tendinitis, he was cleared by team doctors allowing him to start in the finale.
Looking to bounce back from a lopsided defeat with another strong outing by Jason Hammel, the visiting Cubs try to take this four-game set from the Reds on Sunday. Heyward went 4-for-5 with a double and three RBIs. There would be no repeat of Jake Arrieta’s feat on Friday night, as Joey Votto singled down the third base line on a check swing with two outs in the first. All I can say is: keep it going. “He continued to play it”. He allowed one run on five hits in seven innings. The homer was his fifth of the season, and he’s now hitting.303/.361/.545 on the year.
“We needed something to light the fuse”, said manager Bryan Price. “He didn’t have a pitch to finish off anybody today”. The three-run homer got me. His three run homer reversed the Cubs lead, and Cincinnati never really looked back. Over their past 10 games, Cincinnati’s offense has been playing lights out, averaging 0.0 runs per game, well over their season average of 0.0.
“We think about it, the possibilities of ‘what if, ‘” Lester said. “He and (hitting coach) Johnny (Mallee) were working on a couple of things, making a little adjustment”. Reds relievers have thrown the most innings in the NL (62 2/3) and allowed the most homers (16) and walks (37). They’d managed just eight hits in their previous 23 innings, including going hitless against Jake Arrieta in the series opener. The Cincinnati Reds are 7-1 this season when scoring more than three runs, proving their offense is the key to their success. Not only did the Reds get no-hit by Chicago Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta. The Cubs were victorious the last time Lackey pitched.
Chicago Cubs’ Jon Lester hits a sacrifice bunt off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Jon Moscot to drive in Addison Russell during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 22, 2016, in Cincinnati.
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Reds: CF Billy Hamilton missed his third straight game with a sore left thumb. Reds RHP Anthony DeSclafani had a successful 60-pitch rehab start for Pensacola on Saturday.
