Cincinnati Reds continue to have troubles with World Series Champion Chicago Cubs

The Cincinnati Reds have gone toe-to-toe with the Cleveland Indians and New York Yankees this season, but can’t beat the Chicago Cubs.

The Cincinnati Reds went head-to-head with the powerhouses of the American League in May, but they can’t overcome the pesky Chicago Cubs.  The Reds won their first match-up of the season against  the Cleveland Indians and split a two game series in Cincinnati against the Yankees.  Meanwhile, the Reds are only 1-5 against the Cubs in 2017.

Coming off a 1-8 stretch that began with a seventeen inning loss in San Francisco, the Reds went out and beat the Indians in Cincinnati.  They beat the Indians 5-1 behind a great start by Scott Feldman.  He went six innings, allowing one run, before handing the game over to Wandy Peralta, Michael Lorenzen, and Raisel Iglesias for an inning each.

When the Yankees came to town, the Reds lost the opening game 10-4.  In game two, though, Tim Adleman kept the Reds in the game for five innings before turning it over to Lorenzen and Iglesias for two apiece.  The Reds won 5-3 before making the long trip across country to San Francisco.

The Reds seemed to have found their stride.  They have three solid starters in Feldman, Adleman, and Bronson Arroyo with Amir Garrett taking a break in Louisville.  Billy Hamilton was also off to the best start of a month ever, but it all came to a screeching halt.

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The Chicago Cubs have the Cincinnati Reds’ number regardless of what type of teams are on the field.

Despite the hype that the Cubs’ pitching is falling apart, it is pitching that is blocking the Reds.  They have only scored more than five runs only twice in six games against the Cubs this season.  One of those was the Reds’ lone victory against the Cubs so far this season, a 7-5 win.

The Cubs, meanwhile, are averaging eight runs per game against the Reds.  That is three in Cincinnati and three in Chicago.  The Cubs are winning wherever the teams match-up.

The most disturbing occurrence is the battle between Lorenzen and Cubs’ first baseman Anthony Rizzo.  All three times that Rizzo has faced Lorenzen this season, Rizzo has gotten on base.  He has two home runs, four RBIs and a walk.

Next: 17-innings is more than the Reds can take

That is a microcosm of the Reds vs. Cubs match-up this season.  The Reds have good, young talent, but when matched up against the Cubs something always happens.  Then again, maybe Reds’ manager Bryan Price has something to do with this.  Both the Lorenzen and the match-up issues in general could be him.