Reds Late Rally Trips Cubs Avoids Sweep

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The Reds rallied with two out in the bottom of the eighth to edge the Chicago Cubs 4-2.

It looked like Pedro Strop was going to breeze through the inning when Jason Heyward made a diving catch on Joey Votto’s sinking line drive but Adam Duvall got a rally started with a sharp single to left.  Scooter Gennett doubled on a hard grounder inside the thirdbase line and Duvall was held at third.  Strop tried to tease Eugenio Suarez with three pitches out of the strike zone but they waived Suarez to first to bring up Michael Lorenzen, who struck out the side in the top of the inning.  Jose Peraza hit a long double to center that would have cleared the bases but it bounced over the wall for a ground rule double.  The Reds got the fourth run on a wild pitch.

"He's a really good pitcher," Peraza said.  "He has a really good fastball. I was working in the cage underneath the stands  I was ready for it."

The Reds haven't hit Strop particularly well in the past.  In 32 career appearances before tonight the Reds hit .144 against Strop.

"Strop has pitched unbelievably well against us." Price said.  "I'm happy for Jose (Peraza).

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Reds’ rookie Sal Romano had his hands full on Thursday facing the World Champion Cubs, who scored 13 runs on Monday and nine on Tuesday.

"Romano was on the attack," Bryan Price said.  "He threw a lot of good quality strikes.  He had a nice feel for his change up.'

Add to the equation, Jake Arrieta, the Cy Young Award winner from 2015.

Romano coming off a good seven inning start in Atlanta, looked strong.  He retired the first four Cubs easily but University of Cincinnati baseball star, Ian Happ hit his 20th home run.

"It is a great sign.  He is pounding the strike zone with confidence," Price said.

Romano feels like the last two starts are significant for 2018.

"I've been working really hard with the coaching staff and it's starting to pay off," Romano said.  "I didn't have the change up early but I stuck with it and it came around.  You have to be consistent but I am ready to earn a spot in the rotation next year."

Arrieta retired the first 10 Reds.  Zack Cozart hit a hard ground ball to thirdbase that Kris Bryant couldn’t handle in his first game back after getting hit on his hand Monday night.  Cozart cruised to second.  Votto’s single tied the score.

The Cubs broke the tie in the sixth inning.

Bryant doubled with one out.  Romano got Anthony Rizzo to pop up.  The Reds walked Happ intentionally.  Javier Baez singled to left.  Bryant beat a strong throw from outfield assist leader Duvall.

The Reds nearly tied the game in the bottom of the inning.  Cozart singled.  Votto doubled over the head of Kyle Schwarber in left.  Schwarber hit the cutoff man, Baez in place.  The relay from Baez cut down Cozart at the plate.

Romano bounced back with a scoreless seventh inning.  He pitched seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks.  Romano stuck out seven.

In his last two games he’s allowed three earned runs in 14 innings for a 1.93 ERA.

Arrieta lasted 5 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run.  Brian Duensing bailed Arrieta out of a bases loaded jam.
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Raisell Iglesias pitched a scoreless ninth for his 24th save in 25 chances.