The Reds got key two out hits by Tyler Stephenson and Stuart Fairchild to back a pitching gem by Nick Lodolo to beat the Chicago Cubs, 3-2 and tie them in the standings.
"The two out runs," David Bell said. "We feel like the inning is never over, just keep playing."
The win extended the surging Reds' winning streak to six games and now won 11 of their last 14 games. The Cubs have dropped 11 of 15 as the teams are tied at 31-33.
Justin Steele retired the first 10 Reds' batters but Elly De La Cruz walked. Steele threw to first as De La Cruz broke early but beat the throw for his 33rd stolen base. Spencer Steer reached when he swung at a pitch in the dirt but reached first as it got past catcher Miguel Amaya. Tyler Stephenson doubled down the left field line to drive them both home on the Reds' first hit.
Nick Lodolo allowed three hits in the first five innings but didn't break. In the fifth he allowed Michael Busch's second hit with one out. He hit Patrick Wisdom and walked Seiya Suzuki on a 3-2 pitch but retired Cody Bellinger on a pop up to the infield.
Blake Dunn doubled with two outs in the fifth for his first Major League hit. Stuart Fairchild brought him home with a single up the middle to extend the Reds' lead to 3-0.
"Right out of the box, I was hustling hard. I knew I had a chance to get a double and as I turned the base, I picked up my head and saw he just got to the ball, Dunn said. "We're always trying to move up 90 feet. We score a lot of runs that way, by being aggressive."
Dansby Swanson broke Lodolo's shut out with his sixth home run of the season, cutting the lead to two runs.
"Nick has been pitching great. It was a good start for him against a good lineup. He had a good curveball," Bell said. "He got out of a jam with bases loaded and Bellinger at the plate. He gave up a home run on a pretty good pitch. It was a great swing by Swanson."
Lodolo pitched six innings, allowing four hits, two walks, one hit batter with seven strikeouts. It was his second straight quality start both against the Cubs.
"Facing the same team twice in a row, I look at it like I'm not going to have the same stuff every time out," Lodolo said. "I like to spin the ball and I didn't do it very well last time. Tonight I was able to. I never felt like I was wild. I got back into counts and made pitches when I had to."
Nick Martinez pitched a scoreless seventh, turning the ball over to Justin Wilson to start the eighth. He allowed a single in the scoreless frame.
Alexis Diaz entered to earn his 13th save in 15 tries. Diaz walked Busch with two outs and Amaya lined a double off the left field wall. Diaz struck out Wisdom to end the game.
"We get to that point in the game and our bullpen continues to do a great job," Bell said
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