CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Reds couldn't carry the momentum from Saturday into the All-Star break, falling 8-4 to the Chicago Cubs on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
Chicago jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on RBI doubles from Alex Bregman and Michael Busch, but Cincinnati answered with four runs in the third. Spencer Steer drove in a run with a groundout before JJ Bleday tied the game with an RBI single. Eugenio Suárez then gave the Reds their first lead with a two-run homer to left, his 11th of the season.
That lead didn't last long.
The Cubs evened the score in the fourth on Kevin Alcántara's two-run single before breaking the game open in the seventh. Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered the go-ahead RBI single, and two batters later Bregman crushed a three-run homer to turn a one-run game into an 8-4 Chicago advantage.
Bregman finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs, while Crow-Armstrong scored twice and drove in another run. The Cubs went 5-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
The Reds collected nine hits of their own. Steer had two hits, while Suárez's two-run homer highlighted Cincinnati's offense. Andrew Abbott allowed four runs over four innings before the bullpen surrendered four more runs. Rhett Lowder was the only Reds pitcher to avoid allowing a run, tossing two scoreless innings.
The loss sends Cincinnati into the All-Star break at 43-52 after dropping two of three to the Cubs. The Reds return to action July 17 when they open a road series against the Colorado Rockies.
One All-Star note: rookie pitcher Chase Burns will not participate in Tuesday's All-Star Game after being scratched with right groin tightness. Rookie infielder Sal Stewart remains on the National League roster.
