CINCINNATI -- There are only 40 games left in the season, and as the Reds chase for a playoff spot, they have generally done a nice job of beating the teams at the bottom of the standings. That included taking 10 of the 14 previous games they've played vs. the Cubs this season.

But one of the Major Leagues' best offenses since the All-Star break stalled during a 2-1 loss to the Cubs on Tuesday at Great American Ball Park, which ended Chicago's season-high 12-game losing streak.

• Box score

"Obviously, we all know what’s going on. We want to win every game," said right fielder Nick Castellanos, who provided Cincinnati's lone run with a home run in the sixth inning. "But getting pissed off or down or wanting it more, is that going to help us at the end of the day, you know? That’s a good question.

"Personally, I think just us going about our business and focusing on each game and taking it individually and focusing on winning series. Obviously, every game that you can win is good, but if we come out and we win, we just took care of a series, right? And now it’s onto the next. I think that’s probably the best mentality to have as a whole group."

The Reds (65-56), who remained 1 1/2 games behind the Padres for the second National League Wild Card spot, will have a chance to win the rubber game of the three-game series on Wednesday.

Rendered moot was another nice performance by Vladimir Gutierrez, who delivered 6 1/3 innings for Cincinnati while allowing two runs on nine hits and one walk, with seven strikeouts. Superbly efficient and in command of his stuff, he threw only 80 pitches (60 strikes).

With his four-start winning streak snapped, Gutierrez is still 4-1 with a 1.99 ERA over his past five starts and has a 3.02 ERA over his past eight. It's been a big year for Reds rookies like Jonathan India and Tyler Stephenson, but Gutierrez has earned his way into the conversation among the league's top first-year contributors.

"Lots of easy outs, low pitch count. I feel like with his stuff, he can be pretty creative with getting outs. He’s not really predictable, he has a lot of different pitches he can use, he locates well, he throws strikes," Reds manager David Bell said. "All the stuff is good and he competes. Pretty complete picture there. That’s what he has shown us, that’s what he continues to do."

The lone walk Gutierrez gave up -- to Rafael Ortega in the third inning -- haunted the Reds immediately when Frank Schwindel rolled an RBI double down the left-field line for the game's first run. Ian Happ led off the Cubs' sixth inning by hitting a 1-2 Gutierrez pitch to right field for a solo homer.

"I think on that home run pitch, the pitch before, I took a look at the video afterwards, and it looked like that slider was in for a strike. If it weren't for that pitch, I would've been out of there," Gutierrez said via interpreter Jorge Merlos. "The other one, they called a fastball and I shook off and wanted the slider right there, and then he was able to hit it down for a double. It's just kind of what happened during the game right there."

Cubs batters took swings at 41 of Gutierrez's pitches and missed 12 times, according to Statcast. With the exception of Schwindel's double, the slider was highly effective. Thrown 15 times, it got seven whiffs.

"He’s a very good pitcher," Castellanos praised. "I think the more that he finds comfort in the big leagues and the more that he becomes familiar with the league and kind of more familiar with himself going out there every day, he’s tough, man. He doesn’t give in. If he falls behind, he comes at you. He keeps his cool with guys on base. He throws his fastball when he needs to. If he falls behind, he can throw his slider in for a strike. I mean, all around, just good stuff."

Cincinnati was no-hit into the fifth inning by Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks before Tyler Naquin hit a one-out single. The shutout bid ended with two outs in the sixth when Castellanos slugged his solo homer to right field.

The Reds nearly took back the game against the Cubs' bullpen when Rowan Wick hit pinch-hitter Tucker Barnhart with a 1-2 pitch to load the bases with one out in the seventh inning. But Wick got India with a called third strike and lefty Adam Morgan threw one pitch to Joey Votto for a groundout to the shortstop.

"We had the top of our order up right there, those guys have come through time and time again all year," Bell said. "Have to give the Cubs' pitching credit tonight, starting with Hendricks. We’ve faced him a lot, he’s a really good pitcher. The reliever right there just made pitches when he needed to."