The Reds continue their momentum with a sweep of the Chicago Cubs
CHICAGO – Just three weeks ago, Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedel suffered one of the toughest injuries in baseball. He adjusted his oblique fo... Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedel returned to action after suffering one of the toughest injuries in baseball just three weeks ago. On Sunday, when the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs, 8-5, and swept the series at Wrigley Field, Friedel put in the game as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning and smashed a go-ahead two-run off the RBI. The Reds expect Friedel’s schedule to be fully back to normal next week, but he only started one game against the Cubs this weekend. The sentiment shown by the Reds players over the weekend backed up with the win over Chicago, with Reds first baseman Spencer Steer adding a two- run home run in the sixth inning to give the Reds a 7–3 lead and designated hitter Jonathan India hitting a fist while rounding the bases. Reds second baseman Kevin Newman worked a 13-pitch hitter that resulted in a career scoring run, while Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smillie made a perfect transfer of first base.
Published : 11 months ago by hostingerhost01 in Sports
CHICAGO – Just three weeks ago, Cincinnati Reds outfielder TJ Friedel suffered one of the toughest injuries in baseball. He adjusted his oblique form on a swing on May 11, and went on the injured list although Friedel’s MRI came back clean.
Reds boss David Bell said he wanted to be careful with Friedel’s injury. If the aberration recurs, it can keep you out for 1 to 2 months. But Bale also wanted Friedel back in the line-up as quickly as possible.
The Reds developed a plan that was a compromise. Friedel is back after just two weeks on the injured list, but he won’t start on a daily basis until next week. On Sunday, when the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs, 8-5, and sweep the series at Wrigley Field, Friedel showed just how much he meant to the Reds even the day he came off the bench.
Bill Friedel put in the game as a pinch hitter in the fifth inning, and Friedel smashed a go-ahead two-run off the RBI.
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Friedel played in only four games after the Reds activated him on May 23. Since Friedel didn’t go on a rehab stint, every day he started to build up. The Reds expect Friedel’s schedule to be fully back to normal next week, but he only started one game against the Cubs this weekend.
Bill Friedel put him into Sunday’s game the first chance he got. When the Cubs traded their left starter for a right-handed reliever, Friedel hit outfielder Stuart Fairchild and got the hit that gave the Reds the lead.
Bell won that chess game against Cubs coach David Ross, and the Reds’ running offense didn’t pan out as they finished their most impressive series of the season. Friedel added a single in his next at-bat to improve his batting average to . 336. He’s caught two hits in each of his four games since returning from the injured list.
The Reds simply outlasted the Cubs this weekend at Wrigley Field. While the Cubs fell to last place, the Reds are playing with the same amount of momentum they’ve had since 2021.
The sentiment shown by the Reds players over the weekend backed that up. Graham Ashcraft allowed a three-run homer in the second inning to continue a frustrating stretch of his season, but he rediscovered the best version of the slider and shut out the Cubs the rest of the way.
Reds second baseman Kevin Newman worked a 13-pitch hitter that resulted in a career scoring run. When Newman walked to first, nearly every Reds player was batting a rail dugout to celebrate. Reds first baseman Spencer Steer added a two-run home run in the sixth inning to give the Reds a 7–3 lead, and designated hitter Jonathan India hit a fist while rounding the bases.
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The takeaway from Reds vs. Cubs
1. Even though it’s just his second week in the MLB, the Reds’ Matt McClain already looks like one of the team’s most talented players. In a four-hit day, McLain made his biggest impact in the game with his base play. Cubs starting pitcher Drew Smillie made a perfect transfer of first base, leaving McLain no choice but to run to second. McClain beat the throw to second to make an extra base, then advanced to third base when Smellie tried to catch him again but instead threw the ball into the outfield. McLain’s baserunning launch sparked the go-ahead crowd in the fifth inning. Defensively, he also hit a nice charging groundout to end the sixth inning when the bases were loaded for the Cubs.
2. Steer was one of the best rookies in baseball this season. At the plate, he focuses on putting the ball into play and hitting drivelines, but Steer is also a natural power hitter who leads the Reds with seven eyebrows. He was within striking distance of the course in Game 1 of this weekend’s series at Wrigley Field, and Steer threw that home run on Sunday.
3. In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Cubs had a runner on base and reliever Lucas Simms warmed up to the Bulls. Ashcraft has struggled with these moments lately, but he came out of the role with a big breaker that forced a double play in the end. Ashcraft did not stay in the game for the sixth inning even though he only threw 92 pitches. But the second half of his Sunday start gave him something to build on. Earning the win, Ashcraft bent his glove and punched him to celebrate as he walked off the court.
Topics: Baseball, Illinois, MLB, Chicago, Chicago Cubs