Sal Romano allowed the leadoff man on base in every inning. He wriggled out of jams in the first four but on the fifth did him in as the Chicago Cubs scored five runs on the way to an 10-0.
The Cubs stranded 14 runners in the 5-4 11-inning loss in the first game. They were 3-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
Ian Happ, who homered in the first game, repeated the act with a home run to the rightfield bleachers. Happ reached base in four of his five plate appearances in the first game. He walked in the second.
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Romano's fate was sealed in the fifth.
Zobrist walked to reach base for the third time in the game. La Stella flew out but the Cubs were just getting started. Kris Bryant walked. Anthony Rizzo doubled to the rightfield corner and two runs scored. Romano struck out Willson Contreras but walked Happ intentionally. Happ reached base for the seventh time in eight plate appearances. Addison Russell walked.
"Zobrist and La Stella got big hits all day," Reds' manager Jim Riggleman said. "They aren't starters but they play a lot. It was a tough challenge for Sal."
Jason Hayward, making his first start since suffering a concussion two weeks ago in St. Louis, hit a bloop to shallow right, toward the foul line. Gennett came close but the ball hit off his glove, past a charging Jesse Winker for a three-run triple and a 7-0 lead.
"It was an extraordinary effort by Scooter on the triple by Hayward. I think Wink broke back on the ball. That was his all the way," Riggleman said.
"The fastball command wasn't there," Romano said. "My off speed stuff was pretty good. That was something I worked on the last four days. I think I'm flying open on the fastball. When you walk six in a big league game, you're going to get hurt."
The Reds appeared to challenge Quintana in the fifth. Duvall walked again with one out. Scott Schebler drilled a single past La Stella at second for the Reds' first hit.
Kevin Shackelford, who was called up as the 26th man, finally got the leadoff hitter out. He walked Bryant with two outs but retired Rizzon on a fly out.
The Cubs renewed its habit of putting the leadoff man on when Contreras Russell singled. Shackelford threw a wild pitch. Hayward earned his fourth RBI with a sacrifice fly.
The Cubs put runners at first and third with no outs in the eighth inning on a pair of bloop singles. Rizzo's sacrifice fly sent the ninth Cubs' run home.
Quintana finished with seven scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and walked four, including Schebler three times. Suarez took the other walk.
"Their pitchers have thrown three pretty good outings against us," Riggleman said.
Alex Blandino's pinch hit single off Mike Montgomery was the Reds' second hit.
Austin Brice mopped up for the Reds. Heyward singled and scored on a double by Albert Almora Jr.
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