Cubs Roll Nick Lodolo To Avoid A Sweep UC Grad Stars For Cubs

  

University of Cincinnati graduate had three hits, including a home run as the Chicago Cubs rolled Nick Lodolo for a decisive 13-4 win.

The Reds won seven of the 10 games this season, including five of seven at GABP to insure a season series win. The two teams meet for three in Chicago to close out the season.

Cody Bellinger hit a bleeder past starter, Nick Lodolo, for an infield hit. Patrick Wisdom's swinging bunt put Bellinger on second. Nico Hoerner doubled off the left field wall to score Bellinger. Christian Bethancourt singled to drive in Hoerner.

The Cubs went up 6-0 in the second inning. Lodolo was 0-2 against Happ. He went to 3-2 and Happ hit an infield single. Lodolo was ahead of Isaac Paredes but hit the batter on the front toe. Seiya Suzuki doubled inside the third base bag to score two. Bellinger singled with Suzuki stopping at third. Wisdom doubled to clear the bases but he made the first out at third.

Kyle Hendricks started for the Cubs. He retired the first 10 batters before Elly De La Cruz doubled. TJ Friedl walked but De La Cruz was thrown out stealing third.

The Reds cut the lead in half in the fifth against Hendricks. Tyler Stephenson walked to open the inning. Jeimer Candelario singled. Jake Fraley, who entered July with one home run, hit his third home tun to clear the bases. Santiago Espinal hit a single to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Lodolo retired nine out of 10 batters into the sixth inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong singled with two outs. Happ hit his 17th home run to get two runs back. In 112 games against the Reds, Happ, a UC grad, has hit 31 home runs and driven in 85 runs against the Reds.

"Suzki just battled and battled and battled (in the third). I got the ball on the ground but he hit it in the right spot, Lodolo said. The result wasn't great but overall pitching wise, I thought it was significantly better than last week. I have to keep putting it together. My slider was better."

"I tried to give us length and keep us in the game and save the bullpen," Lodolo said. The last pitch to Happ stood out. That's the one pitch I want back."

He tried to save the Reds bullpen but ran out of gas with two outs in the sixth. He pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing eight runs tying a career-high. Lodolo allowed eight runs against the Tampa Bay Rays on April, 18, 2023. The Cubs clubbed 11 hits, including five doubles and a home run.

"Since the set back with the finger (he's had a tough time) but he's going to be alright," David Bell said. "He did some things tonight that will help him get better. He got ahead but wasn't able to put guys away. We're not concerned about him, obviously it wasn't his best night. The fastball velocity was there, throwing strikes and getting ahead, he'll be alright."

Jakob Junis, who was acquired from Milwaukee in the Frankie Montas trade, was greeted with a double by Paredes. Suzuki doubled to rebuild a six-run lead.

The Cubs added on with two outs in the seventh. Nico Hoerner singled with one out. Dansby Swanson sung and missed ball four. Bethancourt hitting .180 walked. Crow-Armstrong's double scored two but he was cut down trying for a triple.

The Cubs added two runs against Yosfer Zulueta on Bellinger's two-run single.

Back-to-back doubles in the eighth inning by Espinal and Will Benson scored the fourth Reds' run.

Eric Yang struck out as a pinch hitter in his first Major League plate appearance.