Friday kicked off a crucial stretch for the Cincinnati Reds, who are set to face the division-leading Chicago Cubs in six of their next nine games — a major early-season test against one of MLB’s most potent lineups.
That test got off to a rough start. Despite holding a 4-0 lead early and a 6-2 advantage by the seventh, the Reds were stunned by a 13-6 loss at home, fueled by four Cubs home runs — including a game-changing grand slam from Pete Crow-Armstrong that capped a six-run inning.
Defensive miscues and a series of missed opportunities opened the door for the Cubs’ rally, leaving Cincinnati unable to recover.
Catcher Jose Trevino urged the team to stay focused, saying there’s no room for self-pity and they need to learn and move forward. Meanwhile, Hunter Greene returned from injury and delivered four solid innings, though a 99.9 mph fastball turned into a Crow-Armstrong homer was a costly mistake.
With their third consecutive loss, the Reds dropped to 25-27 and now sit 6.5 games behind the Cubs. Despite the setback, Greene’s health and performance were positive takeaways, though a lengthy 37-pitch fourth inning prevented him from pitching deeper.
