TJ Friedl homered and drove in three runs to allow Andrew Abbott to even his record at 5-5 in a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.
The win was the seventh in a row for the Reds, including four straight over the Cubs. The teams traded places in the standings with the Reds improving to 32-33 while the Cubs dropped to 31-34.
The Cubs drew first blood against Abbott with two outs in the first inning. Cody Bellinger singled and stole second. He scored on a double by Dansby Swanson.
Jeimer Candelario tied the game against Ben Brown with his ninth home run of the season with two out in the bottom of the first.
"It was exciting," Candelario said. "We have some good guys up and down the lineup. We've had our ups and downs. We want to produce every single game. We enjoy the game and when you enjoy the game, good things happen for sure."
TJ Friedl hit his third home run with Jonathan India on first to break the tie.
The Reds added a run in the fifth against reliever Jordan Wicks. India hit a smash to Patrick Wisdom at third. Wisdom made a diving stop but threw the ball into the Reds' dugout to advance India to second base. Will Benson bunted India to third. Friedl hit a ground ball fielded by Michael Busch at first but he didn't have a play at home. Friedl was out but credited with his third RBI of the game.
The Cubs scored against Emilio Pagan in the sixth inning. David Bote singled to start the inning. Yan Gomes broke an 0-for-25 slump with a run-scoring double.
Abbott allowed one run in his five innings on five hits and four walks. He struck out five and lowered his ERA to 3.28.
"It was a grind," Abbott said. "I didn't have the stuff command wise but with the defense behind you, just have to make a pitch when you have to."
The Cubs made it a one-run game in the eighth against Fernando Cruz. David Bote singled for his third hit of the game. Busch doubled to send Bote to third and he scored on a ground out by Pete Crow-Amstrong.
Lucas Sims came in to close the game out but he walked Christopher Morel. He got Bellinger to hit into a force play. Swanson's third hit, a single, put runners at first and third with one out. Justin Wilson came in to pitch to Reds killer, Ian Happ. Tyler Stephenson caught a shot pop up for the second out. Mike Tauchman grounded out to first to end the game as Wilson earned his first save.
"That was one of the best plays I've seen all year," said David Bell of the sliding catch by Stephenson. "To get out of your position and keep your concentration is really hard to do."
It was Wilson's first save since September 22, 2019 with the New York Mets, he saved a 6-3 win over the Reds.
"I'm so happy for Justin being out there. He's at the top of his game," Bell said. "He's been out there in those situations a lot in his career. He is healthy. He deserves to be out there."
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