Reds Offense Came To Life, Survived Meltdown Late.

It was a cold 41 degrees windy and rainy day in Chicago on this May 3rd day. But the Reds offense were able to connect in a 6-5 win over the Cubs on Friday thanks to hitting with runners on scoring position with two outs.

They were facing Cubs starter Carlos Vilanueva who a week in a half ago dominated Reds hitters in Cincinnati going 8 1/3 innings on April 23rd. Todd Frazier whose been in a major funk offensively got the scoring going with a RBI double in the first inning scoring Joey Votto from first to take  a 1-0 lead.

In the second inning, Xavier Paul hit a leadoff double. After a couple of batters failed to get him in, Shin Soo- Choo Mr. count on hit a RBI single to center to score Paul.

Then in the sixth inning Votto leadoff with a single. He then scored on a Jay Bruce RBI double. Then, Jay scored on a two out double by Devin Mesoraco that made it 4-0 at that point.

The Cubs got 2 runs back in the bottom inning that chased Reds starter Mike Leake out of the game as he went 5 2/3 innings, allowed 9 hits, no walks and three strikeouts. Leake was dealing threw the first 5 innings allowing only 5 hits until the sixth.

The Reds added another run in the seventh on a Bruce groundout. Then in the eighth with a Zack Cozart two out single scoring Choo.

With a 6-2 lead heading to the ninth and with a non save situation you think with Aroldis Chapman on the mound easy right? That was the complete opposite Chapman gave up three straight singles that loaded the bases to start the ninth. He got Rizzo to strikeout and Soriano on a fly out to right that couldn’t get the run home. Cubs send a pinch hitter he walked to force home a run.

Things got shaky when he allowed a single to center scoring two runs that made it 6-5. Then he walked a pinch hitter to reload the bases.

Dusty had to get Chapman out of there after throwing 32 pitches in the inning, he brought in JJ Hoover and he recorded his second save of his career,first of the year via strikeout to end the game.

With the win Reds improved to 3-5 on their current 10 game road trip. They will turn to rookie sensation Tony Cingrani tomorrow afternoon for game 2 don’t wanna miss it. First pitch is at 1:05pm from Wrigley field.