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Schwarber hits 2-run HR to power Cubs past Reds 5-4

It’s as simple as making pitches that inning and getting the guys off the field. “Obviously, you’re on Cloud 9 when you hit the game-tying home run, then you blow it the next inning”.

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Dan Haren probably saved his spot in the Cubs’ rotation, for now, anyway, with five decent innings. “It’s another thing to come up when you’re competing to get to the playoffs, and that’s what we’re doing”.

“But the sixth inning I ran into trouble”.

“I think there are a lot of positives from the game, personally and from the team”, he said. This is a good way of keeping players fresh down the stretch, especially now with the weather being so hot.

La Stella homered for the first time this year on Wednesday but it wasn’t enough as the Cubs dropped their third straight series. Only three Reds batters in franchise history have ever produced a season with at least 40 doubles, 30 homers and 100 RBIs (Jay Bruce, Dave Parker and Frank Robinson).

DeSclafani was chased in the sixth, ultimately giving up a 3-1 lead. That FC was important, because Anthony Rizzo threw Votto out trying to take third base. Before the Cubs lost the rubber match of a three game set with the Reds, Schwarber came up hurting with sore ribs after hitting in the batting cage two hours before game time.

Tucker Barnhart, fresh off a three-hit night, hit one into the gap in left-center that Dexter Fowler could not run down. He’s off to a great start in September. Iglesias was in line for the victory after Jason Hammel went just five innings allowing four runs, but Bryant’s homer erased a chance for the Cuban rookie’s first win since August 12. He pitched one inning, allowing two earned runs on two hits while walking one and striking out one.

He fully joined the team after the All-Star break and immediately made Chicago a much more formidable offense.

[MORE CUBS: Cubs awaiting results on Kyle Schwarber’s MRI].

On the plate: The Cubs and Reds are tied Three-Three after six innings. Even if the injury turns out to be minor, they’re likely to bring back Schwarber slowly because of the delicacy of the area.

The Cubs threatened to add more.

Chris Coghlan will fill in for Schwarber in left field.

Nope. Rondon recovered and got Frazier to ground to Baez at short. When Pence is in the San Francisco lineup, that team wins.

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He confirmed the change Sunday, announcing after the Reds’ 4-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers that left-hander Michael Lorenzen would be recalled from Triple-A Louisville and start Monday against the Cubs in Chicago.

Starlin Castro