Cubs score in game-ending double play in ninth, but lose to Cincinnati Reds
CINCINNATI (AP) — Hunter Greene pitched six scoreless innings and the Cincinnati Reds remained at 99 losses, beating the Chicago Cubs 3-1 on Monday night.
The Reds (61-99) snapped a six-game skid and can avoid losing at least 100 games for the second time in franchise history if they sweep the three-game series against Chicago. Cincinnati finished 61-101 in 1982.
Greene (5-13) and relievers Derek Law, Buck Farmer and Alexis Diaz combined on a two-hitter to stop the Cubs' winning streak at seven games. Chicago didn't get a runner past second base until the ninth against Diaz, who picked up his 10th save.
The Cubs scored in the ninth on a game-ending double play that wasn't completed until Esteban Quiroz, believing he was forced out, wandered off second base and was tagged. The official scorer announced the final score as 3-0 before correcting it.
Greene walked one and struck out eight while throwing 90 pitches, 65 for strikes, in his last start of the season. He also hit a batter. The rookie right-hander won for the first time in four starts since Aug. 1.
Cubs rookie right-hander Hayden Wesneski (3-2) worked six innings, allowing four hits and two runs — one earned — with one walk and six strikeouts. He hit Jonathan India twice with pitches.
Donovan Solano had two of Cincinnati's six hits as the Reds scored more than two runs for the second time in their last six games. They took a 2-0 lead in third as Jose Barrero scored from second on Wesneski's throwing error of TJ Friedl's slow roller up the first-base line and India scored from second on Kyle Farmer's blooper into short right field. Farmer's hit eluded the diving effort of first baseman Alfonso Riva, who knocked it far enough away for Farmer to leg out a double.
India added a run-scoring ground-rule double in the eighth against Manuel Rodríguez.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: Friedl was helped off the field with an apparent leg injury after being thrown out trying to steal third base in the third inning.
UP NEXT
Reds RHP Luis Cessa (4-4, 4.76 ERA) is scheduled to make his 10th start of the season after being moved from the bullpen to bolster an injury-plagued rotation. Cubs RHP Javier Assad (2-2, 3.62) allowed five hits over five scoreless innings in his last start on Thursday against the Phillies.