Cincinnati Reds Beat Cubs After Eugenio Suarez’s Big Hit in the 10th

61. 4. 9. . 5

W: Hoover (5-0)

L: Rondon (3-1)

SV: Chapman (13)

Welcome to Cincinnati, Eugenio Suarez. The shortstop was called up from the minors just a day ago to replace the injured Zack Cozart and provided the game-winning hit in the top of the 10th inning on Friday to give the Cincinnati Reds a 5-4 win over the Chicago Cubs.

The winning hit was set up after Todd Frazier reached on an error and Jay Bruce singled to put runners on the corners. After a failed suicide squeeze attempt, Suarez pushed a ground ball past the Cubs infield—which was playing in to prevent the runner at third from scoring—to score Frazier.

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Aroldis Chapman came on in the bottom of the inning and took care of the middle of the Cubs’ order, striking out Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant en route to his 13th save of the season.

All of that would’ve never occured if it hadn’t been for Bruce, however. In the bottom of the ninth, the right fielder saved the game with a diving catch in the right-center field gap with a runner on second base.

Much like in Thursday’s loss, the Reds got to the Cubs’ starting pitcher early. Just two batters into the game, Ivan De Jesus Jr. got the scoring started against Jason Hammel with a double to score Skip Schumaker. Two batters later, Frazier brought home De Jesus with a double of his own. Another two batters later, Frazier came around to score on a single from Brayan Pena.

The Reds would add another run off of Hammel in the third on a solo home run by Frazier.

Also like yesterday’s game, the Reds were dominated by the Cubs’ bullpen after they knocked the starter from the game. Once the game was turned over to the home team’s relief corps in the sixth inning, one Red reached base until extra innings.

Johnny Cueto started on the mound for the Reds and was given early run support, something he hasn’t had much of all season long. Coming into the game, Cueto ranked 100th among qualified pitchers in run support per start with 2.92 runs per game.

Aside from a two-run second inning, it appeared Cueto would cruise to his fifth win of the year. That is, until the sixth inning when he gave up a game-tying, two-run home run to Starlin Castro.

Cueto was finished after seven inning having allowed four runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts and no walks.

Other Notes:

Billy Hamilton returned to the lineup on Friday and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
Brandon Phillips did not start the game, but appeared as a pinch hitter in the eighth. He flew out to center field.

Up Next: Game three of the series will be played at 7:15 p.m. ET on Saturday. Mike Leake will start for the Reds while Kyle Hendricks will get the ball for the Cubs.

Next: Reds 4-game winning streak ends against the Cubs

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