Cubs wait out rain for walk-off win over Reds
CHICAGO -- Kris Bryant doubled and scored on Starlin Castro's walk-off single in the ninth inning to lift the Cubs to a 4-3 rain-interrupted victory Saturday night over the Reds in front of 40,693 fans, the largest crowd of the year at Wrigley Field.
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"That's what gets you to play in October, to win a game like that," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.
With the game tied at 3 in the ninth, Bryant doubled to lead off against Tony Cingrani, who then hit Miguel Montero with a pitch. Castro lined the second pitch into center for the game-winner.
Video: CIN@CHC: Bryant doubles to start bottom of the 9th
It was the Cubs' seventh walk-off win this season. They are the first Major League club with that many through 60 games since the Giants had seven in 2013.
Chicago's Kyle Hendricks was in line for the win after giving up one run over five innings on Joey Votto's 14th home run. The Cubs had a 3-1 lead when play was halted before the start of the sixth because of rain. During the 2-hour, 48-minute delay, fans were treated to the Blackhawks' Stanley Cup final game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on the video scoreboard, which Chicago won, 2-1.
"They set the tone for us tonight," Maddon said of the Blackhawks.
Video: CIN@CHC: Hendricks strikes out seven over five
Hendricks did not return when play resumed, and James Russell served up three straight hits, including a two-run homer by Eugenio Suarez, which tied the game at 3 in the sixth.
"It's a tough one to lose, but I'm glad we stuck around and played it through nine," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "It's still a loss, but we showed a lot of guts and integrity from our players."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Votto-matic: The Reds trailed 2-0 in the fourth when Votto launched a 2-1 changeup from Hendricks to left. Votto finished 2-for-4 on the night with a single as well, and has reached base in 22 consecutive games, with 26 hits in that span.
Video: CIN@CHC: Votto cuts deficit with opposite-field homer
Miggy mashing: Montero is batting .252, but he's been providing some power lately. Bryant singled off the first pitch from Mike Leake to start the Cubs' second inning, and Montero launched the next pitch into the basket on the top of the outfield fence in straightaway center for his ninth home run. Montero leads all National League catchers in home runs, and now has hit four in his last 10 games.
"They were both mistakes that [Bryant and Montero] did what they should have done with," Leake said. "They made me pay."
Video: CIN@CHC: Montero hammers two-run homer to center
Ground rules: Leake "lives by the ground ball," according to Price, and Saturday was no different. The right-hander recorded 10 outs on ground balls, including one on a behind-the-back toss from Votto as Leake covered first. More >
Video: CIN@CHC: Leake's tosses five strong innings
Rain-delay response: Cincinnati wasted little time in the return from the nearly three-hour rain delay, and strung together three consecutive hits off Russell, including Suarez's first homer. The Reds had five baserunners in the first five innings before four batters reached in the sixth.
Video: CIN@CHC: Suarez ties game with two-run homer in 6th
"We came out of the rain delay with a lot of intensity and fire, and played those last four innings extremely well," Price said. "We made a game of it and gave ourselves a chance to win that ballgame."
QUOTABLE
"They did not break our will to win. You're on top, 3-1, looking pretty good. The [weather] radar screen looks orange, red, whatever, green. Probably not going to play, and then you have to play. Give the Reds a lot of credit, they came back and did what they did. We had opportunities, did not get it done. My point is, you do not permit the other team to break your will under any circumstances." -- Maddon
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When Bryant singled to lead off the second, he extended his hitting streak to 10 games. He's the first Cubs rookie with two hitting streaks of at least 10 games in the same season since Bill Madlock did so in 1974.
REPLAY REVIEWS
• In the fourth, Bryant was called out at home trying to score on Castro's grounder to shortstop. After the Cubs challenged, the call was overturned and Bryant was ruled safe, giving the Cubs a 3-1 lead.
Video: CIN@CHC: Bryant ruled safe after overturned call
• The Reds had a challenge go in their favor for the final out of the fifth. Chicago's Chris Coghlan hit a grounder to first, fielded by Votto, who flipped the ball behind his back to Leake. Leake was originally ruled off the base, but the call was overturned after a review.
Video: CIN@CHC: Safe call at first overturned in the 5th
• With one out in the eighth, Coghlan was ruled out at first after a throw from second baseman Kristopher Negron pulled Votto off the base. The call was overturned after the Cubs' second challenge of the night.
Video: CIN@CHC: Out call at first overturned in the 8th
WHAT'S NEXT
Reds: Starter Anthony DeSclafani will make his third start of the season against the Cubs when Cincinnati concludes its four-game series on Sunday at 8:08 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field. DeSclafani has posted three quality starts in his last four outings, averaging 1.75 runs a game in that time.
Cubs: Jon Lester will try to get back on track Sunday in the series finale against the Reds. The lefty is winless in his last four starts and 0-2 with a 10.61 ERA in his last two games. He has faced the Reds twice this season and yet to get a decision. First pitch is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. CT.
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