Cincinnati Reds take NL’s best team to extras, still lose

The Cincinnati Reds’ oft horrendous pitching was actually good Tuesday night. Yet it still was not good enough as J.J. Hoover faltered once again in a 7-2 15-inning loss to the Chicago Cubs.

The Cincinnati Reds have now lost eight of their last 10 games dropping their season record to 29-49 after J.J. Hoover came in to pitch in the 15th inning. With one out he walked a batter and allowed back-to-back singles to Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant (go-ahead RBI single). He then allowed a two-out grand slam to Javier Baez to all but put the game away. The Reds remain six games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for last place in the NL Central. But good things were prevalent Tuesday night.

John Lamb pitches well

Lamb pitched his longest outing since June 7, going six innings and striking out the most batters (7) he has at Great American Ball Park this season, topping his previous high of five. His season-best is eight at Houston on June 17.

He allowed an early home run to Ben Zobrist, but especially early, lived around the strike zone with all of his pitches. His final line of 65 strikes and 102 pitches was still encouraging as his season ERA lowered to 4.60. Unfortunately, his other mistake came in the fifth when allowed an RBI single to his opposition on the mound, Jon Lester, to fall behind 2-0.

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However, his one walk tied his season-best which he has done just three times now this season. He has walked at least three batters in five of his 11 starts this season.

Billy Hamilton flexes … on his haters

To put a crooked number on the board for the Reds, Hamilton blasted a solo home run in the eighth to bring the Reds within one. Bouncing around the order from top to bottom, Hamilton went 1 for 6 on Tuesday hitting seventh and raised his slugging percentage to .385.

He now has a hit in four of his last five starts.

Inconsistent offense proves costly

The Reds’ offense managed two runs on Tuesday! Yet, just five hits and no player with multiple base knocks let the Chicago Cubs’ potent offense hang around too long.

Lead-off hitter Zack Cozart reached base just twice, a walk and a single, and struck out twice dropping his season average to .267. Joey Votto, in the 2-hole, went 0 for 6 including an inning-ending double play in the 13th inning and offensive phenom Adam Duvall went 0 for 6. As a team, the Reds struck out 13 times including eight times in extra innings.

Next: Jay Bruce to the ASG?

Best of the rest:

• Eugenio Suarez singled home Brandon Phillips in the ninth to tie the game at 2-2. His 39th RBI of the season.
• Raisel Iglesias did no allow a hit in two innings of relief lowering his ERA to 3.24. He struck out four and walked one.
• Jose Peraza singled in a eighth-inning pinch-hit appearance. He later stole his seventh base of the season.

The Reds and Cubs wrap up the three-game series with a day game and 12:35 p.m. start on Wednesday. The Reds then begin an 11-game, 12-day road trip into the All-Star break.