Cubs shut down Reds because of course. CHC 3, CIN 0.

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Daniel Corcino's major league debut couldn't have gone much better than it did tonight.

The righty tossed a perfect 9th inning in relief, struck out 2 of the 3 batters he faced, and broke the seal on his big league career all on his 24th birthday.

Corcino has long been spoken of as a future starter, and after watching some of his repertoire tonight it's easy to see why.  He's struggled to keep command of the strike zone for much of the last two seasons, but with that arm he'll at least get a chance to show his stuff as a reliever if the starting gig doesn't materialize.

I mean, hell, the Cincinnati Reds signed Carlos Marmol earlier this season.  Have arm, will travel.

Honorable Mentions are due to:  Johnny Cueto, who was still good enough for a quality start despite not having his best tonight; Sam LeCure and Logan Ondrusek, for both chipping in with scoreless performances from the bullpen, too; and Todd Frazier, for getting a hit.

Key Plays

• The Reds started this one on time, but before Cueto could get through two batters the skies opened and rain began pouring down in GABP.  Anthony Rizzo then launched a solo dinger in the midst of the storm before play was halted for 50 minutes.  Reds trailed, 1-0.
• Cueto and former Red Travis Wood both cruised for the next handful of innings, and neither an into real trouble until Cueto stumbled in the Top of the 7th.  Matt Szczur szczingled to begin the inning before Arismendy Alcantara launched a 2-run dinger off a Cueto pitch that looked chin-high and outside.
• Being that the Reds are the Reds and, well, that the Reds' offense is the Reds' offense, that was that.  Reds lose, 3-0.