CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds opened their three-game weekend series against the Chicago Cubs with a 6-4 victory Friday night at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati jumped ahead 2-0 in the first inning behind a Sal Stewart sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Tyler Stephenson. The Cubs battled back, eventually taking a 4-3 lead on Seiya Suzuki’s two-run single in the fourth.
The Reds answered in the sixth. Eugenio Suárez tied the game with an RBI single before Jose Trevino drove home JJ Bleday and Suárez with a two-run single to put Cincinnati ahead for good.
Elly De La Cruz reached base four times with two hits and two walks while scoring twice.
Chase Burns allowed two runs on four hits over three innings as Cincinnati continued to carefully manage his workload down the stretch. He struck out four, walked two and threw 67 pitches in his penultimate outing.
The Reds bullpen held Chicago scoreless over the final five innings, with Emilio Pagán working the ninth for his 24th save.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday at 6:40 p.m. Nick Lodolo takes the mound for Cincinnati, while Matthew Boyd gets the start for Chicago. Pregame coverage begins at 6:10 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.
