Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs

Báez hits bases-loaded single in 9th as Cubs top Reds 6-5

Anthony Rizzo homered in his second straight game for the Cubs, who opened what could be the final homestand for some of their stars. Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Craig Kimbrel and/or Báez could be on the move by Friday’s trade deadline.

Joey Votto homered for the third time in three games and drove in three runs for Cincinnati, which dropped its second straight and lost for the seventh time in 10 games. Kyle Farmer added a homer as the Reds’ winning streak against Chicago ended at four.

Patrick Wilson walked after a nine-pitch at-bat to start the bottom of the ninth, pinch-hitter Ian Happ drew a pass an out later and Nico Hoerner loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch by Heath Hembree (2-5).

“Incredibly fun to watch,” Hoerner said. “(Báez) is a special player.”

Amir Garrett came on and allowed the game-winning hit.

“That was the last piece we had left and it lined up pretty nicely,” Cubs manager David Ross said after calling on Báez despite a minor injury. “Really nice job by the group to continue to fight back.”

Báez and Garrett appeared to be jawing at each other immediately after the final hit and Báez made several strides toward first before tossing his bat aside. He did not speak to reporters after the game, and Reds manager David Bell did not seem overly concerned.

“Just two highly, highly competitive guys,” he said. “There’s a lot of emotions in this game. It’s just two guys who want to do well so much.”

Kimbrel (2-3) struck out three straight to end the top of the inning after putting two men on.

“It’s disappointing we lost a close game,” Votto said after the Reds ended the game 1 for 13 with men in scoring position. “It felt like our game to win.”

The Reds led 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth before Willson Contreras hit a booming home run to center off reliever Josh Osich.

Rizzo drove the first pitch he saw from starter Wade Miley into the right-center bleachers to score Bryant in the first inning. Votto answered in the top of the second with a first-pitch shot to nearly the same spot. He tied the game an inning later with a sacrifice fly.

Farmer homered in the fourth and Votto gave the Reds their first lead an inning later when he drew a bases-loaded walk from starter Kyle Hendricks.

Hendricks, who’d gone at least six innings in 13 straight starts, lasted only 4 1/3 and surrendered the first five runs and nine hits while walking two and striking out four.

Miley lasted just as long, giving up seven hits, three earned runs and five walks.

LATE TRADE

UNKIND IVY

Chicago’s Jake Marisnick led off the bottom of the second with a liner that rolled all the way to the left-field corner and kept motoring around third when Cincinnati’s Jesse Winkler still hadn’t come up with the ball. Home fans groaned, however, when Marisnick was forced to settle for a ground-rule double that got sufficiently lodged in the mid-summer bushes.

Miley retired the next three Cubs to strand him at second.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: OF Nick Castellanos (right wrist) could begin throwing and other baseball activities as early as Tuesday, manager David Bell said. The first-time All-Star was placed on the injured list Thursday after an x-ray showed a microfracture. … INF Alex Blandino (right hand) is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Wednesday night with Triple-A Louisville. … The club recalled LHP Amir Garrett from the paternity list and optioned INF Alejo López to Louisville before the game.

Cubs: Báez started the night on the bench after waking up with a sore left heel. He appeared to suffer some sort of injury after trying to beat out a ground ball late in Sunday’s win over Arizona.

UP NEXT

Cincinnati sends Vladimir Gutiérrez (4-3, 4.97) against fellow righthander Adbert Alzolay (4-10, 4.58) on Tuesday night.

How can I watch Cincinnati Reds vs. Chicago Cubs?

• TV Channel: Reds at Cubs 2022 MLB Baseball, is broadcasted on MLB.tv.
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