Rookie Phillip Ervin clubbed a tie-breaking, two-run homerun in the seventh inning to carry the Cincinnati Reds to a 13-10 win over the Chicago Cubs Thursday at Wrigley Field. The Reds took a commanding lead after scoring nine runs in the second inning but the Cubs crawled their way back and tied the game at 9-9 in the fifth inning after hitting six homers. However, Ervin hit a two-run shot to put the Reds ahead, Eugenio Suarez hit an RBI grounder in the eighth while Jose Peraza drove in a run in the ninth to seal the win as the Reds improved to 51-71.
Ervin finished with four RBIs and came a triple short of a cycle, Joey Votto belted a three-run homer and Peraza finished with three RBIs for the Reds, who split the four-game series with the Cubs. Reds starter Scott Feldman lasted just 3 2/3 innings after giving up six earned runs on seven hits, including five homers, with a strikeout. Michael Lorenzen gave up three runs on three hits in 1 1/3 frames before Drew Storen (4-2) pitched a scoreless sixth to earn the win. Raisel Iglesias pitched a perfect ninth for his 22nd save of the season.
Cubs’ Jon Lester suffered tightness in left lat
Cubs starter Jon Lester lasted just two innings after experiencing tightness in his left lat. He needed just six pitches to retire the Reds’ first three batters but he gave up eight runs on seven hits in the second.
The Cubs said Lester was examined by the Cubs orthopedic specialist and a result was expected Friday. Mike Montgomery took over from Lester, allowing just three hits in 4 1/3 innings but Justin Grimm (1-2) gave up a two-run homer to Ervin.
Cubs erased nine-run deficit but lost steam
Despite being down 9-0 in the second, the Cubs slowly trimmed the Reds’ lead, starting with Ian Happ’s solo shot in the second inning.
In the fourth, the Cubs tied a franchise record with four homers with long balls from Kris Bryant, Alex Avila, Happ and Javier Baez. Kyle Schwarber opened the fifth with a leadoff homer before RBI doubles by Anthony Rizzo and Avila tied the game at 9-all. In the seventh, Grimm walked Suarez before Ervin hit his second homer of the game one out later for an 11-9 advantage.
With the loss, the Cubs’ lead over the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central was reduced to one game.
The Cubs (63-57) will try to regain lost ground when begin a three-game Interleague series against the Toronto Blue Jays. The Reds, for their part, will play the Atlanta Braves in a three-game series at SunTrust Park.
