Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cubs	0	0	1	0	0	2	0	1	0	4	7	0
Reds	1	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	1	5	10	3

Boxscore

Despite 3 errors, the Reds pulled off a walk-off win against the Cubs yesterday to take 3 of the 4 games.

Mat Latos had a nice outing. Through 8 innings he allowed 4 runs (2 earned) on 6 hits and 2 walks. But since the offense didn’t win it until the ninth, it was Aroldis Chapman who got the win. In the ninth, he allowed 0 runs on 1 hit and 0 walks. He struck out 2.

The offense was off to a good start when 3 of the first 4 batters got on base, and then Jay Bruce knocked in Zack Cozart to draw first blood. It looked even better in the fourth when a parade of singles by Jay Bruce, Frazier, Wilson Valdez, and Latos (plus a sac fly by Ryan Hanigan) put 3 more runs on the board.

But the Cubs had tied it up by the time last round-up time rolled around for the Reds, and no one was looking forward to extra innings with the trip to Philly looming. That’s when Xavier Paul got his 1-for-1 triple to lead off the bottom of the ninth and set up Hanigan for his second RBI of the game.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 74-48. Tonight they are hosted by the Phillies. Mike Leake (RHP, 5-7, 4.29 ERA) will try his hand against Roy Halladay (RHP, 6-7, 3.80 ERA). First pitch at 7:05 p.m.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Cubs (46-71)	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	3	11	2
Reds (72-47)	0	1	0	5	1	0	0	0	-	7	10	1

Boxscore

And just like that, the Cincinnati Reds are on the verge of another winning streak.

The Reds opened a 4-game series with the Chicago Cubs yesterday, facing their old teammate Travis Wood. The last time they faced Wood, he held them to 1 run over 7 innings. This time, things were different.

The Cubs took the early lead in the second inning, but the Reds tied it in the bottom of the inning when Wood misplayed a ground ball off the bat of Ryan Hanigan. Hanigan was safe at first, and Todd Frazier scored.

Then in the 4th inning, the offense exploded. Ryan Ludwick lead off the inning with his 23rd home run. Wood hit Jay Bruce and then served up a pitch to Frazier that he deposited in the seats in left field for his 16th home run. That gave the Reds a lead they would not relinquish, but they weren’t finished. Bronson Arroyo reached on a double, and was knocked in by Zack Cozart. Drew Stubbs drove in the 5th run of the inning with a triple that scored Cozart.

Arroyo wasn’t at his best in his start, but he kept the team in it and turned in a quality start. In 6 1/3 innings, he allowed 3 runs on 9 hits, 3 walks, and 3 strikeouts. When the bullpen entered, the Reds had a 4-run lead, and Jose Arredondo, Jonathan Broxton, and Aroldis Chapman kept the Cubs off the board the rest of the way.

The Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals, keeping the Reds’ lead at 6 games.

Today, the Reds play a double-header. Johnny Cueto will take on Jeff Samardzija in the first game at 1:10pm EDT. And then in the second game, the Reds’ streak of using only 5 starting pitchers this season will be broken when Todd Redmond is called up to start against Brooks Raley at 7:10pm EDT.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mets	0	0	0	3	0	3	0	0	2	8	9	0
Reds	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	3	4	8	3

Boxscore

There’s almost no part of the game last night that doesn’t qualify as an all-out stinker as the Reds broke their 5-game win streak in the final game of the series against the Mets.

Homer Bailey’s performance certainly qualifies. In just 5.2 innings, he allowed 6 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits and 3 walks. I was on the road last night so I didn’t see the game on t.v., but I did hear part of it on the AM band. Marty was talking about how much better Bailey’s numbers are on the road than at Great American Ball Park, and he suggested that that fear of giving up home runs has Bailey pitching differently at home. That might be it, I suppose. He might also just be tired. Either way, really crummy performance last night.

Alfredo Simon did well in his 1.1 innings of relief, not allowing any runs or hits, just a walk. Logan Ondrusek was even better; he didn’t allow any baserunners at all in his perfect 1.0. Jose Arredeondo, though, dragged the collective bullpen performance into the stinker category by allowing 2 runs (1 earned) on a hit and a walk in the ninth.

The defensive contribution was certainly a stinker. Brandon Phillips (of all people) had a throwing error in the fourth that allowed Jason Bay to get into scoring position and come home 2 batters later.

Scott Rolen committed a fielding error in the sixth. There was only one out, and the next out was a sac fly, so it’s hard to know how it would have gone down without the flub, but I think we can guess that probably 3 runs wouldn’t have scored that inning.

Zack Cozart completed the trifecta of errors in the ninth, allowing Justin Turner to reach and Ike Davis to score. Hmm…three errors, one in each of the three innings in which the Mets scored. Go figure.

It’s hard to call the offense a stinker when they scored 4 runs, but it gets an honorable mention at least. They made it look like more of a game than it really was with 3 runs in the ninth. The RBI belong to Cozart, Ryan Ludwick, Jay Bruce, and Miguel Cairo. Bruce was the only one with more than 1 hit: he was 2-for-4. Ludwick got on twice with a hit and an HBP.

The loss brings the Reds’ record to 71-47. They start fresh tonight when they open a series against the Cubs. Bronson Arroyo (RHP, 8-7, 3.95 ERA) will take the mound for the Reds against Travis Wood (LHP,
4-8, 4.52 ERA) for the Cubs. First pitch at 7:10 p.m.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mets	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0
Reds	1	0	0	2	0	2	1	0	-	6	13	0

Boxscore

The Reds took down the Mets and 15-game winner R.A. Dickey last night to ensure the win of the series.

Mike Leake started for the Reds, and before the game it hardly seemed like a fair match-up. But Leake was up to the task and put in a 1-run (earned), 4-hit complete game. The starters have really been rolling lately, which is the main reason the Reds are now, again, owners of a 5-game winning streak.

The offense was in fine form as well. Todd Frazier went 3-for-4 on the night, including a 474′ home run in the fourth inning that was the fourth-longest home run in the majors so far this year. Not that length really matters, but Rookie of the Year, anyone?

Zack Cozart, Jay Bruce, and Scott Rolen each went 2-for-4 and scored a run. Rolen contributed an RBI in the form of a solo-shot immediately prior to Frazier’s in the fourth inning. Not bad for a guy who, 5 days ago, couldn’t move with the back spasms he was having.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 71-46. They lead the NLC by 7.0 games over both the Pirates and Cardinals, who are now tied for second. Tonight they go for the sweep of the Mets. Homer Bailey (RHP, 10-7, 4.08 ERA) tries his hand against Matt Harvey (RHP, 1-3, 3.63 ERA). First pitch at 7:10 p.m.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Mets	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0
Reds	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	3	11	1

Boxscore

The score remained 0-0 in the bottom of the ninth until Jay Bruce came through with the 4th walk-off homer of his career to give the Reds the win in the series opener with the Mets.

Mat Latos started for the Reds and was lights-out. In his 7.0 innings of work, he allowed 0 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks. He struck out 4. Unfortunately for him, though, he left the game before the Reds put any runs on the board and only got a no-decision for his efforts.

Sean Marshall pitched the eighth and didn’t allow a hit, but did walk a guy. Jose Arredondo pitched the ninth, allowed 1 run and 1 walk, and was in the right place at the right time to get the win.

Offensively, the Reds threatened several times, but just couldn’t get a guy across the plate. Zack Cozart, Brandon Phillips, Ryan Ludwick, Jay Bruce, and Ryan Hanigan all got on base 2 or more times, but when the team leaves 14 on base over the course of the game, even that might not be enough.

But it all worked out in the bottom of the ninth. Phillips led off the inning with his third walk of the night, followed by Ludwick singling to left field. The Mets’ pitching change at that point backfired on them, as Jay Bruce hit one over the left-field wall.

The win brings the Reds’ record to 70-46. They have a 4-game win streak going and lead the NLC by 6 games over the Pirates. Tonight the series against the Mets continues at 7:10 p.m. Mike Leake (RHP, 4-7, 4.51 ERA) tries his hand against R.A. Dickey (RHP, 15-3, 2.72 ERA).