Reds Recap: Cubs Walk Over and Off Reds
Coming out of the doom and gloom that looked to be a called game after five inning during a rain delay, the Cincinnati Reds tied the Chicago Cubs, but ultimately fell to them in a ninth inning that was shorter than I care to mention.
Game Summary
After the Reds went quietly for the first two innings, the Cubs dented the scoreboard with a two spot of their own when Miguel Montero launched his ninth homerun of the season that also chased in Kris Bryant, 2-0.
The scoreboard would have a rest until the fourth inning when Joey Votto found his wallet swing and crushed his 14th homerun of the year to Left Center Field, 2-1. However, the scoreboard would return to action in the bottom of the fourth when Starlin Castro would ground a Fielder’s Choice to Eugenio Suarez. Suarez elected to throw home to try and nab Kris Bryant who was trying to score from third. The call initially was that Bryant was thrown out after the play, but upon further review Bryant was awarded the score, 3-2.
After the fifth inning, the rain started to poor. Almost three hours later, the game resumed. Fans in Cincinnati were thankful that the game was not called. The game resumed in the top of the sixth with Skip Schumaker to lead off the inning.
Schumaker would reach on a single the Left Field that just squeaked past the five and a half hole between Short Stop and Third Base. Then the Hero from the night prior, Suarez would belt one to deep Left Center Field to tie the game after the monsoon, 3-3.
The score would remain tied until the bottom of the ninth. The Reds called upon Tony Cingrani to take the hill being it was a non-save situation on the road. Cingrani immediately gave up a double into Left Center Field to Kris Bryant, followed by a hit batsman. So with runners on first and second base and no one out, that brings us to Starlin Castro.
Castro would line a single into Center Field. At first glance it appeared that Billy Hamilton had a legitimate shot to make a play at the plate. He uncoiled his throw plate-ward, but it was coming too far up the third base line. Almost with Jeter-esk ability, Votto came across the diamond to attempt would have been a Sports Center top 10 play. He raced across the infield, cut off the misguided throw and the quickly relayed it to the plate, but to no avail.
The Cubs had scored the walk-off fourth run that they needed and took game three of the four game set. They currently lead the series 2-1 with game four being on Sunday Night Baseball.