Cincinnati Reds power past Chicago Cubs with clutch hitting

The Cincinnati Reds got clutch hitting from the power bats in their lineup and took the first of a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

This was the offensive performance that Reds’ fans expected from their team since the season began. Joey Votto, Eugenio Suarez, Jesse Winker, and Yasiel Puig all stepped up big time today and the Cincinnati Reds took the first of a three-game set against the Chicago Cubs.

It didn’t look promising early. Reds’ starter Anthony DeSclafani struggled again. The right-hander gave up back-to-back two-out home runs in the bottom of the third inning. Kris Bryant got the party started with a two-run bomb and then Anthony Rizzo took Disco deep to give the Cubs a 4-0 advantage.

Meanwhile, Kyle Hendricks was dealing to begin the game. The Cubs’ starter held the Reds scoreless through the first three innings, but a double by Joey Votto followed up a few batters later with an RBI single by Yasiel Puig put the Redlegs on the board.

Puig sent a towering shot to straight away center field in the top of the sixth inning with Jesse Winker aboard and the Cincinnati Reds had closed the gap to just one run. A single by Votto in the seventh, followed by another single off the bat of Suárez put runners at first and second with two outs and Winker at the dish.

Jesse delivered with an RBI double as he hustled around first base and made it safely into second. Votto came around to score and the game was knotted 4-4. At this point, José Iglesias and Yasiel Puig, two of the Reds’ best hitters, were already removed from the game as part of two separate double-switches that David Bell had organized.

David Hernandez replaced Amir Garrett in the bottom of the eighth inning with runners on first and second and two outs. Willson Contreras reached over the plate for a huge base knock that fell into center field and scored Rizzo from second base. The Cubbies took a 5-4 lead into the ninth.

Joey Votto pulled out a vintage at-bat and worked a full count. He’d take his base following a 3-2 pitch that missed off the plate. David Bell put in Michael Lorenzen to run for Votto, but the move proved to be unnecessary. Eugenio Suárez absolutely crushed a two-run homer to left center field and the Reds took a 6-5 lead.

Raisel Iglesias would slam the door in the ninth and retire the Chicago Cubs in order. After the rough way that the Reds lost Wednesday’s game in Milwaukee, combined with the early hole they dug for themselves in this one, today’s win was a huge one for this ball club.

The Cincinnati Reds’ 2-5 hitters were a combined 8-for-16 (.500) with 2 home runs, 6 RBIs, 1 walk, and just 3 strikeouts. If the Reds get this kind of production from the middle of the lineup, the NL Central will become very interesting. The Reds go for two in row tomorrow afternoon at Wrigley Field.