DeSclafani pitches Reds past Arrieta, Cubs
CHICAGO -- Anthony DeSclafani threw seven shutout innings to outduel Jake Arrieta and lead the Reds to a 3-2 victory Tuesday night over the Cubs to even the series.
Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Marlon Byrd each hit RBI singles in the fourth, which was all DeSclafani needed. Making his seventh career start, the right-hander gave up two hits -- a single by Jorge Soler with two outs in the fourth and an infield hit by Dexter Fowler with one out in the sixth -- over a career-high seven innings. More >
Pinch-hitter Welington Castillo made it interesting in the Chicago eighth, hitting a two-run homer off of Kevin Gregg, who took the loss Sunday when he served up a two-run homer to the Cardinals' Matt Carpenter. It was Castillo's first career pinch-hit homer. More >
"It was a little more dramatic than we had hoped, but we have to stockpile some wins," said Reds manager Bryan Price after his team snapped a three-game slide and the Cubs' three-game winning streak. "After a couple of back-to-back tough losses, I think a win right there was a nice salve for us."
Video: CIN@CHC: Chapman fans Olt for the save
The Cubs had won their last two games in their last at-bats, but Aroldis Chapman snuffed their rally in the ninth, picking up his 116th career save and third this season.
"If we keep giving that kind of effort all year long, I'll be very happy," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Streaky pitching: The last time Arrieta faced the Reds was Sept. 16 when he threw a one-hit shutout, striking out 13. The right-hander began Tuesday's game in the same groove, retiring the first nine batters he faced. The Reds' runs in the fourth ended Arrieta's streak of not having given up an earned run at 26 innings, dating to that September game.
"At the end of the day, they put some good swings on balls that were off the plate," Arrieta said of the Reds. "[DeSclafani] was tough today. He pitched a really good game, stayed out of the middle of the plate and had some good life on his fastball." More >
Video: CIN@CHC: Votto singles to give Reds the lead
Big hits aplenty for Reds: During the big rally, five of the first six batters in the top of the fourth reached on singles off of Arrieta. Cincinnati was 3-for-its-first-3 with runners in scoring position in the game and is 8-for-19 with RISP over the past two games against Chicago.
"He's very, very good," Price said of Arrieta. "We were able to string some hits together, which was really the big thing, and put together that three-run inning. Other than that, we really didn't have him on the ropes a whole lot. That played really big for us."
Video: CIN@CHC: Bruce singles to extend the Reds' lead
Another rough eighth for Reds bullpen: Gregg has a 17.18 ERA through four appearances with the Reds, and has allowed three home runs in his four innings. The bottom of the eighth started with a leadoff walk before the Castillo blast came on a 90-mph fastball over the plate with little movement. Tony Cingrani replaced Gregg with two outs and gave up an Anthony Rizzo single and Soler's four-pitch walk before striking out Chris Coghlan to preserve the one-run lead.
Video: CIN@CHC: Castillo hits pinch-hit two-run shot in 8th
Phillips leaves game: During the fourth-inning rally, Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips was injured after Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro fell on him during a play at third base. Phillips exited the game after the top of the fifth inning, because of lightheadedness, and was replaced by Skip Schumaker. More >
Video: CIN@CHC: Phillips shaken up on play at third base
QUOTABLE
"I don't want to speculate. It depends on what's happening with the roster, what's happening with his development. We don't know yet. Every day, check in with the trainers, the manager, development guys and see where we're at." -- Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein, on whether or not top prospect Kris Bryant will be promoted to the big league team this weekend. More >
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
Arrieta has given up three or fewer earned runs in each of his last 15 starts at Wrigley Field, including Tuesday. The last Cubs right-hander with at least 15 consecutive home starts of three or fewer runs was Matt Garza with 19 (2011-13).
WHAT'S NEXT
Reds: Jason Marquis will make his second start when the Reds finish the series vs. the Cubs at 8:05 p.m. ET on Wednesday. Over his lengthy career, Marquis is 14-12 with a 4.91 ERA in 37 games at Wrigley Field. He was a member of the Cubs from 2007-08.
Cubs: Travis Wood makes his second start of the season Wednesday when the Cubs close their three-game series against the Reds at 7:05 p.m. CT. Wood is 2-5 with a 2.98 ERA in 10 career starts against his former team. The Cubs and Reds will honor Jackie Robinson by wearing his No. 42 jersey in baseball's annual tribute to the Hall of Famer.
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