Cincinnati Reds sweep aside Chicago Cubs with comeback 3-2 win on Sunday

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

It was a team effort as the Cincinnati Reds brushed aside the Chicago Cubs for a third consecutive day and took home a vital series sweep of their division rivals in GABP. As a result, the Reds moved to 3 full games over the .500 mark and maintained sole possession of the 2nd place in the division with the All Star break looming.

It also meant the Cubs get to celebrate the 4th of July with their 9th consecutive loss. Hell, I’d celebrate that any day of the year. The Pittsburgh Pirates also helped out today by downing the Milwaukee Brewers, meaning the Reds are 6.5 games out of the Central lead.

Speaking of celebrations, let’s celebrate the Reds who chipped in for the group effort today:

Tucker Barnhart, who singled, doubled, and bashed in a run; Kyle Farmer, who was plunked twice and later scored twice because of them; Jonathan India, who singled, was plunked, and picked up a ribbie for his efforts; Brad Brach brushed off some iffy infield defense to fire a scoreless 8th inning and pick up the initial out of the 9th; Joey Votto, who singled and just missed another dinger on a 400 foot flyout to CF; and Wade Miley, for singling at the plate and doing the dang thing anyway in a bit of an off-day.

Key Plays

• The Cubs finagled single runs off Wade Miley in each of the Top of the 1st and Top of the 2nd. The usual suspects were behind the initial run - back to back to back singles by Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javy Baez did the deed. The follow-up came courtesy in of a Jake Marisnick triple and Kyle Hendricks single in frame numero dos, and the Reds trailed early, 2-0.
• Kyle Farmer was plunked and raced around to score a batter later on Barnhart’s ribbie double in the Bottom of the 2nd, however, and the Reds had shaved the Cubs lead to just 2-1.
• Singles from Eugenio Suarez and Barnhart bookended another Farmer HBP in the Bottom of the 7th against the Chicago reliever Dan Winkler, loading the bags with none out. After an unproductive fielder’s choice, Winkler then plunked Jonathan India to force in the game-tying game, and Jesse Winker managed to plate another courtesy of a soft-groundout to the right side. Reds led, 3-2, and that’s how it ended after Amir Garrett worked through some command troubles in the Top of the 9th. SWEEEEEEP!

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Wade Miley was far from brilliant on the day, but he did do an excellent job of limiting any hard contact. The BABIP Gods were not on his side, a few seeing-eye balls found the outfield, and in all he managed to scatter 10 hits in his 6.2 IP, though all stayed in the yard and 8 were singles. His final line: 6.2 IP, 10 H, 2 ER, BB, 3 K on 91 pitches.
• Eugenio Suarez made some slick plays at 3B today. He also
• The Reds travel to Kansas City next, and on Monday they’ll begin a three-game series against the Royals in Kauffman Stadium. Monday’s matchup will have Vlad Gutierrez on the bump again for the Reds opposite Mike Minor. First pitch is set for 8:10 PM ET because Sir Sandford Fleming proposed a global set of time zones back in 1879.
• Tunes.