CHICAGO -- Reds rookie pitcher Graham Ashcraft prefers to induce weak contact early in counts, but certainly has strikeout stuff to fall back on when he needs it. On Friday afternoon vs. the Cubs, Ashcraft could've really used a strikeout or two to escape a second-inning jam.

With runners on second and third base with one out, Ashcraft gave up a sharply-hit two-run double to left field to Nico Hoerner in a three-run bottom of the second inning. Three more runs crossed in the third as the Reds fell to Chicago, 6-1, at Wrigley Field.

“I couldn’t get my slider where I needed it to go. It was just kind of flying out and not doing what I wanted it to do. It wasn’t a good day," Ashcraft said.

Lasting only 2 2/3 innings while throwing 67 pitches, Ashcraft allowed six runs (five earned) with six hits, two walks and one strikeout.

Since returning from a 32-day stint on the injured list with right biceps soreness, Ashcraft has given up 10 runs (nine earned) and 14 hits over 6 2/3 innings in two starts. He is scheduled to make one final start on Wednesday vs. the Cubs at Great American Ball Park.

"He’s still in his first season. He’s still continuing to learn. Sometimes, you don’t think about that or remember it because he was so good at times early on," Reds manager David Bell said. "It’s all part of the process. Any time you miss that much time, it’s not going to be perfect when you come back."

Overall, Ashcraft is 5-5 with a 4.52 ERA in 18 starts.

"There are still so many good signs, so many good things he does," Bell continued. "We’re talking about a pitch here, a pitch there is different and it could be a different game. It’s a tough league. It takes you being at your absolute best and Graham is right on track. He’s doing everything he needs to."

With a 1-0 lead on Jake Fraley's homer in the top of the second inning, Ashcraft opened the bottom of the second inning giving up three straight hits. First it was an Ian Happ bloop single and Franmil Reyes followed with a rocket for a ground-rule double into the left field ivy.

On a 2-2 pitch to Hoerner, Ashcraft hung a slider for the two-run double that changed the game. There were two outs when Christopher Morel hit a 2-2 sinker to right field for an RBI double.

A pair of one-out walks loaded the bases against Ashcraft in the third inning. Hoerner grounded into an RBI fielder's choice with second baseman Spencer Steer's throwing error adding another run. A Yan Gomes bloop double ended Ashcraft's afternoon.

"The last two games, it’s just been execution," said Ashcraft, who is 0-3 with an 11.91 ERA in three starts this year vs. the Cubs. "That’s what’s been killing me -- not being able to execute pitches when I needed to and where I needed to. That’s part of it. You have to be able to execute your pitches and get them where you need them to go to be able to get outs. The past two outings are perfect examples of not being able to do it.”

Saving the Reds bullpen was 2023 rotation candidate Connor Overton, who pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings while throwing 64 pitches.

“That was my only goal -- to go in, be efficient and be able to go as deep as I could or as deep as they needed me to, to save the guys in the ‘pen," Overton said.

After Overton walked his first batter upon replacing Ashcraft in the third inning, he retired the next 13 batters in a row. It was his second game back from a four-month IL stint with a back injury that stopped what had the makings of a breakout season.

"Nice to have Connor back," Bell said. "He definitely did pick up the bullpen, but more so for Connor to work all the way back from the injury. In his second time out, it looks like he’s really back to where he was at the beginning of the season."

Cincinnati has lost its last four games and 17 of its last 21. With a 60-97 record, the club also has its first 97-loss season since dropping 98 games in 2015. The Reds must win three of the season's final five games vs. the Cubs to avoid their second 100-loss campaign in franchise history and the first since 1982.