Ian Happ and Franmil Reyes Hit Homers To Lift Cubs Over Reds

 

Ian Happ continued his career long assault against the Reds and Franmil Reyes joined him to drive in six runs combined to send the Chicago Cubs to a 7-2 win over the Reds.

It was the Reds' fifth straight loss and gave the Cubs the series that started Thursday in Dyersville, Iowa.

Happ hit a three-run home run against Ian Gibaut and had an RBI single.  It was his 25th home run against the Reds, who watched him play baseball at the University of Cincinnati.

"I haven't seen the pitch Happ hit yet," David Bell said. "I heard it was really a tough pitch to hit.  You give him a lot of credit for getting the good part of the bat on the ball.  He just put it in play and he has a lot of power.  It was a slider, a pretty good pitch out of the strike zone.  That's really tough to do."

The Reds started the scoring against Cubs' starter Adrian Sampson in the first inning.  Jake Fraley doubled on a close play to open the inning.  Kyle Farmer delivered him with a one-out single.  The Reds loaded the bases on a pair of walks but Aristides Aquino struck out swinging.

Reds' starter Graham Ashcraft cruised through three innings.  The Cubs woke up in the fourth.  They got an opening when Seiya Suzuki reached on a throwing error by Jose Barrero.  Franmil Reyes, who was dumped by the Guardians last month, belted a 98 MPH slider into the Cubs bullpen in right. It was his 10th home run of the season.

"Reyes hit a slider down and away " Ashcraft said. "Maybe we should have pitched" him, hard up and in.  He is a big strong guy.  I gave him a pitch at his bat speed and he did what he did with it."

Chicago extended the lead in the fifth.  Nick Madrigal hit a bad hop single to short.  Ashcraft walked Willson Contreas.  Ian Happ slapped a single to right to plate Madrigal.

Fraley opened the bottom of the fifth with his third hit an infield single.  Nick Senzel drew a 3-2 walk.  Farmer hit a hard ground ball past a diving Nico Hoerner for his second RBI single of the game. 

Ashcraft got the first out in the seventh but walked Madrigal.  David Bell brought in Ian Gibaut to the mound. Contreras singled to set up Happ's 10th home run of the season.

Ashcraft turned in a quality start but saw his record drop to 5-3.  He pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned on six hits and three walks.

"Ashcraft had good stuff," Bell said. "Maybe the best sinker he's had.  He got a ton of ground balls.  If he continues to do that there a lot of good things ahead."

Ashcraft feels like he's getting better.  He was pitching in front of his grandmother and grandfather who was celebrating their 62 wedding anniversary.

"I think I pitched better than the line suggested. I felt like I was able to control the four seam and two seam tonight.  I got a lot of ground balls a lot of soft contact," Ashcraft said.

Sean Newcomb picked up the win by relieving Adrian Sampson in the fifth inning with runners on first and second and no outs.  Newcomb struck out the heart of the Reds order, Joey Votto, Donovan Solano and Matt Reynolds to keep the Reds at two runs.  He walked two but struck out two in his second inning of work.

Contreras' 17th home run in the ninth off Ross Detwiler provided the final score.

The loss was the Reds fifth in a row.  The Cubs won its third straight game.  

Happ has now played 79 games against the Reds. He is hitting .302 with 25 home runs and 61 RBI against Cincinnati.

First base umpire and crew chief Marvin Hudson was overturned three times on calls.