CINCINNATI -- Alex Bregman unloaded a three-run homer in the seventh to break open a one-run game and power the Cubs past the Reds, 8-4, on Sunday in the final game of the first half at Great American Ball Park.
Bregman, who had the game-winning two-run shot in Saturday’s 5-3 win, finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs in the finale. That helped the Cubs finish their six-game trip through Baltimore and Cincinnati at 4-2, improving to 54-42 heading into the All Star break.
Bregman’s home run was off Cincinnati reliever Pierce Johnson, coming two batters after Pete Crow-Armstrong’s go-ahead RBI single to give the Cubs the lead.
Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd (5-1) allowed four runs on six hits and a walk over 6 1/3 innings, striking out three to earn his fifth straight win -- and third since returning from the injured list on June 25.
After first-inning RBI doubles from Bregman and Michael Busch gave Boyd a two-run cushion, Cincinnati broke out with four runs in the third, highlighted by a Statcast-projected 433-foot shot to the upper deck in left by Eugenio Suárez that gave the Reds a 4-2 lead.
Carson Kelly worked a four-pitch walk off Cincinnati starter Andrew Abbott to open the fourth, followed by a double to right from Busch that put runners on second and third.
After Ian Happ walked to load the bases, Dansby Swanson struck out and Abbott had two strikes on Kevin Alcántara when he hit a potential inning-ending grounder up the middle. Instead, the ball hit the bag and hopped past Edwin Arroyo, allowing Kelly and Busch to score, tying the game at 4.
The Reds attempted to rally in the ninth down four runs, but reliever Jacob Webb recorded the final two outs for his fifth save in nine chances after the Reds put two runners on in the ninth.