Hunter Greene Finished What He Started Shutting Out The Cubs On One Hit

 

 Also  Follow Reds on https://athlonsports.com/

Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

Hunter Greene pitched a complete game shut out as the Reds defeated the Chicago Cubs 1-0 to stay withing striking distance of the last Wild Card slot in the National League playoffs

Greene retired the first 12 Cubs' batters to start the game. Moises Ballesterios reached first on an error by Elly De La Cruz. Greene retired the next two Cubs batters. Pete Crow-Armstrong lined a pitch off the tip of Spencer Steers' glove and hit off Ballesterios' batting helmet. The ball caromed into center field and TJ Friedl forced a dazed Ballesterios at second base to preserve Green's no-hitter.

Colin Rea gave up two singles in the first inning. One to Gavin Lux and the other to Austin Hays with one out. Sal Stewart struck out and  Will Benson lined out to first baseman, Michael Busch.

The Reds broke through in the fourth inning. Hays and Benson doubled to give the Reds a lead.

Seiya Suzuki doubled down the third base line with two outs for the Cubs' first hit. Greene finished the seventh inning  with no runs scored. Greene finished off the last seven Cubs' batters to seal the win. Busch flew out to the warning track in right to lead off the ninth and Greene struck out .300 Nico Hoerner and Reds' nemesis from the University of Cincinnati, Ian Happ to end the game.

"He deserved to finish that game," Reds' manager Terry Francona said. "What was most impressive is that it was 1-0. There wasn't a lot of wiggle room. A walk, an error and we could be talking about nice effort but.... or we could still be playing."

Greene allowed just the one hit, a walk and struck out nine.

"It was great. I was trying to stay present," Greene said. "Stepho, (Tyler Stephenson) were on the same page all night. It was a lot of fun. I was just trying to stay in the moment."

Greene came close to pitching a complete game shutout in San Francisco on April 7. He pitched 8 2/3 innings but Tony Santillan had to come in to get the last out in a 2-0 win.

"Of course there was a little extra heart beat going into the ninth inning," Greene said. "San Francisco kind of flashed through my mind. I was telling myself, this is my game. I told Tito the next game I pitch deep in that situation, that I wanted to finish it. I wanted to show myself and also Tito and the team."