In May, Cubs-Reds 'felt like a playoff game'
Mark Sheldon
@m_sheldon
Jordan Bastian
@MLBastianCINCINNATI -- Watching the Reds and Cubs slug it out on Sunday almost looked like something out of a video game. Both offenses had huge afternoons -- each notching five home runs -- as they equaled the Great American Ball Park single-game record for blasts.
When the dust settled, the Reds emerged with the 13-12 walk-off win in a 30-hit, 10-inning spectacular to take two of three games in the series from the Cubs. It was Nick Castellanos¡¯ fifth hit of the game, a single off closer Craig Kimbrel that scored Jesse Winker in the bottom of the 10th that ended it.
¡°Just each team taking one good swing after another, putting points on the board,¡± said Castellanos, who also hit two of Cincinnati¡¯s home runs.?
¡°It felt like a playoff game, to be honest with you,¡± Cubs manager David Ross said. ¡°Back and forth. Heavyweight fight. Wind blowing out in Cincinnati. And we just came up on the short end.¡±
That Castellanos¡¯ hit served as the final exclamation point on a wild day. Here were some of the notable moments and performances from the memorable game:
Reds: Su¨¢rez has a big day, too
Struggling all of the first month and batting .149 for the season, Eugenio Su¨¢rez had his first three-hit game -- also his second multi-hit game -- of 2021. Su¨¢rez hit a first pitch solo homer in the third inning, a single in the fifth inning and his two-out, two-run single in the sixth gave the Reds a 9-6 lead.
¡°Of course, I feel so happy and I hope to keep going like that,¡± Su¨¢rez said. ¡°When you¡¯re struggling, nothing is the same. But I tried to be the same Geno Su¨¢rez that everybody knows. I had the support from my family and teammates when I came here.¡±
Cubs: Bryant¡¯s 10 total bases
Two pitches into the game, the Cubs had a pair of doubles and one run on the board against Reds righty Tyler Mahle. The second two-bagger in that sequence was off the bat of Bryant, who has taken an aggressive approach to early-count situations this season.
¡°He gave us fits before in the past,¡± Bryant said. ¡°These pitchers are just getting increasingly so good at this game, so you've really just got to hit that first good one you get.¡±
Bryant kept that mind-set in the third, when he crushed a first-pitch homer off Mahle. The Cubs' star went deep again in the fifth, giving him 15 career multi-homer games and a third career game against the Reds with at least 10 total bases. Bryant now owns a share of the Major League lead with 19 extra-base hits this season.
Reds: Castellanos¡¯ scorching season continues
The two biggest innings for the Reds both involved Castellanos home runs. When Cincinnati batted around in the four-run third inning, Castellanos slugged a game-tying two-run homer on a 3-0 sinker from Trevor Williams. Two batters later, Mike Moustakas and Su¨¢rez added back-to-back homers off Williams to make it a 6-4 game.
As Cincinnati sent eight to the plate in the sixth inning, a Castellanos single to left field against Alec Mills loaded the bases with two outs. Two batters later, Mills hit Moustakas with a 2-2 pitch to force in the go-ahead run. Castellanos then homered in the seventh, along with Tucker Barnhart.
¡°Just appreciate it. They don¡¯t come around that often as well as today,¡± Castellanos said. ¡°Just cherish it, because baseball is a humbling game.¡±
Cubs: Happ¡¯s game-tying blast
The Cubs have been waiting for Ian Happ -- named the everyday center fielder and leadoff man last year due to a breakout showing -- to find his rhythm this season. On Sunday, he doubled in the first, singled in the seventh and then launched a game-tying, three-run homer off Tejay Antone in the eighth. Bell was trying to give Antone a potential seven-out save situation and he came into the day with a 0.64 ERA in eight appearances.
Combined with homers by Anthony Rizzo and Javier B¨¢ez, the Cubs had five blasts in the ballgame. That was ample in overcoming a tough start for Trevor Williams, who allowed six runs to give Chicago¡¯s rotation a 9.53 ERA on the team¡¯s 2-5 trip through Atlanta and Cincinnati.
¡°We really need to do better as a rotation. And we know that,¡± Williams said.
Reds: Garrett returns to mound
During the top of the 10th inning with the ghost runner on second base, Amir Garrett took over the day after his words towards Rizzo and B¨¢ez sparked a benches-clearing incident on Saturday. Garrett struck out Jason Heyward, intentionally walked Nico Hoerner and struck out Tony Wolters. Garrett didn¡¯t gesture toward or yell anything at Cubs hitters this time, even though he admitted to hearing some talk coming from the visiting dugout.?
¡°None of that even phases me,¡± Garrett said. ¡°What happened yesterday is what happened yesterday. I just had to go in there and get the job done for my team. I couldn't be worried about anyone else or whatever. I heard them talking a little bit over there, I didn't let it phase me. I just had one job to do and today we got it done and we got the win.¡±
Cubs: Arrieta pinch-hits, Reds turn to Hendrix
After Garrett¡¯s appearance, Reds manager David Bell turned to rookie righty Ryan Hendrix to face pinch-hitting pitcher Jake Arrietta, who grabbed a bat with the Cubs out of position players. The teams combined to use 39 players in the game.
Hendrix struck out Arrieta and earned his second big league victory.
¡°I made the decision before the inning, Amir was going to face those three hitters,¡± Bell said. ¡°I knew it might be an intentional walk in there. It definitely wasn¡¯t a case that I didn¡¯t believe Amir could get the out. I just believed that Ryan was the better guy there. I know Jake Arrieta is a really good athlete. He swings the bat well.¡±
Reds: Wolters nabbed at home
Wolters attempted a delayed steal of home in the second inning and was initially called safe. The Reds challenged the ruling and, following a replay review, Wolters was deemed out to end the frame. That proved to be an important run when the smoke cleared on the roller-coaster contest.
¡°I know we didn't win,¡± Bryant said. ¡°But if I'm a fan going to a baseball game, that's what I want to see. Teams hitting 10 home runs combined? A lot of action. Great plays. Lead changes. I mean, that's just a great game.¡±