Cincinnati Reds: Bats silenced as Cubs complete sweep

The 5-1 start seems like a distant memory for the Cincinnati Reds, as they fell to the Chicago Cubs once again on Thursday in Wrigley Field. The sweep was completed relatively easily, with the Cubs smacking 11 hits and drawing five walks and never feeling any sort of pressure from the Reds as they cruised to an 8-1 win.

Lifeless offense

The Cincinnati offense could muster only six hits on the day, getting shut down by the combination of Jason Hammel, Travis Wood, Pedro Strop and Justin Grimm. Before the ninth inning when Jay Bruce singled and Adam Duvall doubled, the Reds had gotten just one runner into scoring position all night long. They did continue to show good plate discipline as a team by walking a collective four times — two from Billy Hamilton — but couldn’t string any hits together to bring them home.

Iglesias shaky

Raisel Iglesias was not bad by any stretch on Thursday, but he clearly didn’t have his best stuff. He struck out a season-low two batters as Cubs hitters proved to be their pesky selves once again. The righty saw his pitch count rise quickly and could only make it through five innings on 93 pitches, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks. A Kris Bryant home run in the second inning was the only mark against Iglesias until the fifth inning, when he had the biggest blow dealt to him. He allowed a leadoff single to Addison Russell (who went 3-for-4 on the night) followed by an RBI double to the opposing pitcher, Hammel. A walk and a sacrifice fly later, and the Reds saw their deficit increase from 1-0 to 3-0.

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Struggles continue for Hoover

The bullpen looked to be on its way to redemption after a rough night on Wednesday, but it all fell apart for J.J. Hoover in the bottom of the eighth inning. He retired the first hitter he faced, but then allowed six straight runners to reach base on three walks and three singles before he was removed from the game. In all, the Reds’ closer surrendered five runs (four earned, due to a throwing error by Bruce), raising his season ERA to 20.25.

Notes:

• Before Hoover blew up in the eighth, the relief corps pitched well. Blake Wood allowed a pair of hits in the sixth, but was able to get out of the inning. Caleb Cotham tossed a perfect seventh. Neither pitcher has allowed a run this season, the only two in the bullpen who can say that.
• Devin Mesoraco and Zack Cozart, both dealing with quadriceps strains, remained out the lineup on Thursday.
• In Mesoraco’s stead, Tucker Barnhart continues to play well. He went 1-for-4 at the plate and threw out a runner trying to steal second base.
• With Cozart out and Ivan De Jesus Jr. struggling, Eugenio Suarez got the starting nod at shortstop, while Jordan Pacheco started at third base.