Cubs Shutout By Reds 2-0
CHICAGO (AP) — Mat Latos threw eight scoreless innings, and Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 2-0 win over All-Star Travis Wood and the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
Latos, who had been 3-0 with a 1.73 ERA since the All-Star break, allowed six hits and struck out nine for the Reds, who gained a half-game on idle Pittsburgh and St. Louis in the NL Central.
Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth inning for his 28th save in 32 tries to hand the Cubs their third straight home shutout loss. They have gone 32 2-3 innings without a run at Wrigley Field.
Phillips provided all the offense with his 15th homer of the season. He hit an 0-2 pitch from Wood to score Todd Frazier, who had walked.
Latos (12-3) gave the Reds bullpen a much needed rest after Cincinnati used six relievers for a combined six innings of work Sunday in a 3-2, 13-inning win over San Diego.
After Latos went eight, Chapman did the rest to give the Reds their 10th win in 12 games over the Cubs this season. Cincinnati is 13-1 in its last 14 games at Wrigley Field.
Wood (7-9) posted his 20th quality start but took the loss. He also went eight innings and allowed Phillips' homer among four hits. He struck out four and walked only one, but the Cubs lost for the 11th time in 15 games.
Cincinnati left fielder Ryan Ludwick returned from the disabled list and went 0 for 3. He had been out since April 1 when he tore cartilage in his right shoulder while sliding headfirst into third base against the Los Angeles Angels.
The Cubs didn't get their first hit off Latos until there were two outs in the fifth when Donnie Murphy lined a sharp single to left. Darwin Barney followed with a single that moved Murphy to third. Latos ended the threat by getting Wood to fly out to left.
Wood, facing the team that traded him before the 2012 season, kept the Reds in check, too. He was helped by double plays in the second and fourth innings, and was aided in the third when David DeJesus threw out Devin Mesoraco at second as he tried to stretch a single into a double.
Chicago also made a costly mistake on the bases in the sixth. Junior Lake singled with one out, and when Anthony Rizzo followed with a hit to center, Lake was thrown out at third by center fielder Shin-Soo Choo.
NOTES: The Cubs promoted Kris Bryant, the No. 2 pick in this year's draft, from short-season Boise to Class-A Advanced Daytona. . Mesoraco went 1 for 3 after playing all 13 innings on Sunday. When asked about playing Mesoraco on Monday, Baker cited his average against left-handers (.339), his familiarity with Latos, and his age (25). ... Cubs RHP Scott Baker threw a bullpen session and will throw one more before resuming his rehab assignment at Daytona. Baker, 31, is working back from Tommy John surgery and has allowed 14 earned runs in 12 innings through four combined rehab outings at Class-A Kane County and Daytona. . On Tuesday, the Reds' Homer Bailey (7-10, 3.73) faces the Cubs' Jeff Samardzija (6-11, 4.23). ... Cincinnati optioned OF Derrick Robinson to Triple-A Louisville to make room for Ludwick.
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