CINCINNATI — The Reds finally found a way to solve Matthew Boyd during the fifth inning Saturday night.
Unfortunately, they did not find much of anything before or after it.
Cincinnati managed four hits and went without an extra-base hit during a 5-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park. The defeat dropped the Reds to 72-83 and evened the weekend series at one game apiece.
Nick Lodolo gave Cincinnati seven solid innings, but the offense provided almost no room for error—which is nothing new if you’re a Reds fan.
Chicago opened the scoring during the second inning. Nico Hoerner doubled, advanced to third when Carson Kelly grounded into a fielder’s choice and scored on Matt Shaw’s sacrifice fly.
The Cubs extended their lead during the fifth. Dansby Swanson singled, moved into scoring position and scored when Seiya Suzuki lined an RBI single into left field.
Cincinnati answered in the bottom half, producing its only sustained offensive threat of the night.
Eugenio Suárez walked before JJ Bleday singled into right field. Suárez scored and Bleday advanced to second when Dansby Swanson committed a throwing error. Ke’Bryan Hayes followed with a run-scoring single to center, tying the game at 2-2.
The Cubs answered in the top of the sixth when Michael Busch launched a Lodolo offering 417 feet into the seats in right-center field. It was his 20th homer of the season and ultimately became the decisive run.
Lodolo recovered to complete seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out only one batter but threw 62 of his 90 pitches for strikes and kept Cincinnati within one run throughout his final two innings.
The Reds could not take advantage.
Daniel Palencia retired all six batters he faced during the sixth and seventh innings, striking out three. Cincinnati collected two hits and one walk against the remainder of Chicago’s bullpen but never pushed another run across.
The Cubs added insurance against Pierce Johnson during the eighth. Ian Happ drew a walk and scored when Hoerner singled into center field. Dansby Swanson then homered off Zach McCambley during the ninth, extending Chicago’s lead to 5-2.
Hoerner, Busch and Swanson each finished with two hits. Busch and Swanson supplied Chicago’s two home runs, while Hoerner scored once and drove in another.
Cincinnati’s four hits came from Dane Myers, Tyler Stephenson, Bleday and Hayes. Elly De La Cruz reached twice on walks, but Sal Stewart, Juan Brito and the combination of Matt McLain and Carlos Jorge went hitless.
Boyd earned the victory after allowing two runs—only one earned—on two hits and two walks over five innings. Ryan Rolison recorded the final out for his third save.
Lodolo pitched well enough to give the Reds an opportunity. Cincinnati simply did not do enough with it.
What’s Next: Cincinnati concludes its three-game series against Chicago Sunday at Great American Ball Park. Rhett Lowder is scheduled to start for the Reds, with first pitch set for 1:40 p.m.
