A seven-run eighth inning powered the Chicago Cubs to a 15-7 win and a crucial road series split over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, padding their lead for a National League wild-card berth.
After Reds reliever Derek Law (4-5) allowed the first three batters to reach in the eighth on two singles and a hit batsman, Reds closer Alexis Diaz came on for the Reds (71-68) but gave up two-run singles to Nick Madrigal and Mike Tauchman.
Brett Kennedy relieved Diaz and surrendered Cody Bellinger’s RBI sacrifice fly and Dansby Swanson’s two-run double. It was Swanson’s second hit of the inning.
Tauchman went 4-for-6 with a double and three RBIs, Bellinger homered and drove in three runs and Ian Happ doubled among three hits and had four RBIs for the Cubs (73-64). Swanson and Madrigal each went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
The Cubs added three more runs in the ninth off Kennedy when Jeimer Candelario homered and Happ hit a two-run double.
Cubs reliever Daniel Palencia (5-0) was credited with the win. He struck out two over 1 1/3 innings.
Chicago’s outburst ended a back-and-forth game over the first seven innings.
The Cubs scored three runs over the first two innings against Cincinnati starter Carson Spiers, who was making his major league debut. Spiers worked four innings, allowing three runs on five hits. He struck out seven and walked two.
After Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Reds responded in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back solo home runs by TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer for a 2-1 lead against Cubs starter Jameson Taillon.
Taillon worked 5 2/3 innings, surrendering five runs and seven hits. He struck out seven without walking a batter.
After the Cubs moved ahead 3-2 in their half of the second, Tyler Stephenson bashed a two-run homer to right center in the Reds’ half. Stephenson finished 3-for-3 with a walk and three RBIs.
Bellinger’s solo home run, his 23rd blast of the season, tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the sixth against reliever Chasen Shreve, but the Reds regained the lead and chased Taillon in the bottom of the inning. Christian Encarnacion-Strand doubled, and Stephenson greeted Palencia with an RBI single.
Chicago again tied the game in the seventh at 5-5 when Nico Hoerner doubled and Happ singled him home against Ian Gibaut.
–Field Level Media
