Mike Moustakes returned from the injured list and launched a two-run home run off Kyle Hendricks with Eugenio Suarez, who walked scoring in front of him. His second home run of the season lifted the Reds to a 12-7 verdict over the Chicago Cubs.
"It felt great to be back," said Moustakes, who wore his mask even in the field. "It always feels awesome to hit a home run but it felt more special after being at home the last few days. I wore the mask on the field with an over abundance of caution. We have the team rule that everyone wears a mask in the clubhouse and in the dugout, so I wore it on the field. It didn't bother me that much. I talk to the umpires and the opposing players so I wanted to keep the mask on."
The Reds chased Hendricks in the fifth when they broke the game open with seven runs. Freddie Galvis started the inning with a single. Shogo Akiyama hit a ground rule double to centerfield. The Cubs walked Joey Votto with intent. Suarez singled to left center to score Galvis and Akiyama. Hendricks left for Rex Brothers to face left-handed hitting Moustakas, who walked. Nick Castellanos hit his second home run of the season. It was his fifth career grand slam. Nick Senzel hit his first home run one out later.
Senzel had six tests while he was away from the field. "I don't want to go into it but with what happened to the Marlins and Matt (Davidson, the Reds player who tested positive), I think it was handled as well as it could be. It was really good to be back and fun that me and Mike homered in the same game after being away."
While the Reds hitters raced, Sonny Gray cruised. He hit Anthony Rizzo with a pitch in the first inning and didn't allow a hit until, UC's Ian Happ doubled with two out in the fifth. By the end of the sixth inning, Gray amassed 10 strikeouts, fanning the side in the sixth.
The Reds pulled Gray in the seventh after he struck out Albert Almora Jr. for his 11th strikeout. It would have ended the inning but Gray walked Steven Souza to open the inning. Suarez throwing error on a ground ball by Josh Phegley to put runners on second and third. Gray allowed just one hit, extending his streak to 35 consecutive starts in which he allowed six hits or fewer. The last time he gave up more than six hits in a game was on August 1, 2018 when he allowed seven hits to the Baltimore Orioles as a member of the New York Yankees.
"He (Bell) came out to the mound and kind of left it open for me, whether I should stay in or hand him the ball," Gray said. "I just handed him the ball. I had every thing going tonight."
"Sonny was throwing strikes. I didn't know him that well beginning last year. I depended on DJ (pitching coach Derek Johnson)," David Bell said. "It was really good to have Mike and Nich back. Mike has a great outgoing personality and he's fun to be around. We are glad he's back."
Bell brought in former Cub Brooks Raley to face Happ. Raley walked Happ to load the bases, hit Victor Caratini to force in a run. Nico Hoerner singled in two runs. Kris Bryant lined a ball past the diving Akiyama to make the score 9-5. Bell brought in Lucas Simms after Raley walked David Bote.
The Reds got three runs back against Dillon Maples in the bottom of the seventh and would have scored more but Akiyama hit into his first triple play in America. Moustakas walked and Travis Jankowski ran for him. Castellanos walked. Winker hit a line drive off the glove of Bryant at third base. Jankowski scored. Senzel doubled to drive in two runs. Galvis and Barnhart walked. Duane Underwood Jr. replaced Maples. He got two strikes on Akiyama but on the third pitch, Akiyama hit a line drive to Bryant's glove side. This time Bryant caught the ball barely inches off the ground, stepped on third to retire Senzel and threw to first before Barnhart could get back.
It was the first triple play turned in by the since Brian McCrae, Jose Hernandez and Ryne Sandberg turned in one at San Francisco on May 10, 1997 with Stan Javier batting.
Joey Votto hit into the last triple play for the Reds on September 23, 2016 in Milwaukee on a line out 3-6-3.
Bote hit a two-run home run off Cody Reed to finish the scoring.
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