Gavin Lux hit an RBI double in the third inning and four Reds pitchers combined on a six-hitter as Cincinnati beat the visiting Chicago Cubs 1-0 on Sunday to cement a four-game sweep.
Cincinnati (80-76) won its fifth straight and pulled into tie with the New York Mets for the National League’s third and final wild-card spot. Andrew Abbott threw 4 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, while striking out two and walking one. Nick Martinez (11-13) threw 2 1/3 perfect frames in relief.
In the ninth, Tony Santillan allowed Moises Ballesteros’ leadoff walk and Michael Busch’s two-out free pass before striking out Pete Crow-Armstrong to secure his seventh save.
Jameson Taillon (10-7) pitched seven quality innings for the Cubs, allowing a run on five hits while striking out four and walking none. Busch reached base twice for Chicago (88-68), which dropped its fourth straight since clinching a postseason berth on Wednesday.
After Matt McLain’s one-out double in the third, Lux drove in the game’s only run with a two-out double to right.
Carlos Santana and Swanson singled in the fourth, but Abbott retired Justin Turner and Busch to escape the jam.
Ian Happ slapped a two-out single in the fifth, chasing Abbott after 86 pitches. Martinez pitched flawlessly in relief, retiring each of the seven Chicago batters he faced.
Graham Ashcraft surrendered Seiya Suzuki’s two-out single in the eighth, but got Carson Kelly to pop out
Brad Keller threw a perfect ninth in relief of Taillon.
The Reds wrap up their home regular-season schedule with three against the Pittsburgh Pirates before finishing at the NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers next weekend.
The Cubs, who lead the NL wild-card race, will play their last six regular-season games at home against the Mets and St. Louis Cardinals.
–Field Level Media
