Never An Easy Win, Cincinnati Reds Fall To Cubs

Apr 18, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher James Russell (40) throws out Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton (6) at first base during the ninth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Someone on twitter said Saturday’s game against the Cubs would be “an easy win” for the Cincinnati Reds. Unfortunately there is no such thing as an easy win in Cincinnati sports as the Reds (7-10) fell to Chicago (5-11) 8-4 Saturday afternoon in Chicago.

The Reds faced Cubs pitcher Edwin Jackson, a pitcher that was considered one of the worst starting pitchers in the National League coming into Saturday’s game. In typical Cincinnati fashion the Reds could not jump up on the Cubs early or at all Saturday.

Cincinnati starting pitcher Tony Cingrani struggled Saturday lasting only 5 innings in a loss. Cingrani’s 5 innings pitched saw the young pitcher toss 104 pitches while giving up only 4 hits, 4 walks and 3 strikeouts. What doomed Cingrani in were the three earned runs that were given up over the first three innings.

Upon pulling Cingrani manager Bryan Price replaced him with Logan Ondrusek who would be pitching on 11 days rest for the last time in his career. Ondrusek lasted .2IP after allowing 4 hits and 3 earned runs. A struggling Ondrusek was replaced with Nick Christiani who recorded the final out of the sixth inning. Christiani then proceeded to give up 2 more runs in the 7th giving the Reds an 8-4 deficit to work with.

The Reds offense did their job again Saturday, although it took a few more innings that the club would have liked. In the 6th and 7th innings saw the Reds score 2 runs apiece pulling them within two runs of the lead at 6-4.

Billy Hamilton had a phenomenal day at the plate going 3 for 5 scoring one run and stealing one base. Hamilton has started to turn his at bats around as he has been getting more hits in-between hitless streaks. Joey Votto continued to hit raising his batting average to .322 after going 2-4. Jay Bruce got hot as well, going 3-3 Saturday and raised his batting average to about .200.

Cincinnati struggled Saturday but they look to rebound Sunday at 2:20pm, Homer Bailey (0-1) will be on the mound for the Reds.