Cincinnati Reds: Three takeaways from rain-shortened series vs Cubs

Rain washes away the Reds chance to split series with the Cubs.

The schedule makers gave the Cincinnati Reds an early four-game series against the Chicago Cubs. On the heels of their first two-game losing streak of the young season, Cincinnati hoped to get back in the win column against their heated division rival. The first two games of the series didn’t go as planned.

Reds starting pitcher Wade Miley was not as advertised on Monday night. Only lasting 1.2 innings, Miley gave up five runs and four hits, putting the Reds in a huge hole. Although Cubs closer, Craig Kimbrel walked in two runs in the bottom of the 9th inning, the Reds fell one run short and lost their third in a row, 8-7.

The Reds hung with the Cubs for the first two innings on Tuesday night. The third inning saw the Cubs put their first run on the board and not stop until the eighth inning, with the Reds gave up one run every inning. Then in the ninth, the Cubs scored twice on a two-run home run, officially putting the game out of reach, 8-5.

he Reds finally got some good news on Wednesday night. Mike Moustakas returned to the lineup and Nick Senzel would also be back on the field for the first time since Saturday. Sonny Gray picked up where he left off on Opening Day and pitched another gem. Home runs flew out of Great American Ball Park as the Reds pummeled the Cubs 12-7, earning their first win in four games.

Unfortunately, rain wouldn’t let last night’s game get underway, postponing the last game of the series and ending any chance of the Reds earning a series split. The Reds now stand 2-4, in last place, two games behind the first-place Cubs. Before Cincinnati begins the three-game series in Detroit, let’s take a look at three takeaways from the rain-shortened three-game series.