Cubs fall to Reds in regular season finale |
CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs finished off their 2017 regular season schedule at Wrigley Field against the Reds in a game that had more of a Sloan Park vibe as the North Siders lost 3-1.
Rizzo was pulled after the first inning, and Bryant saw only two at-bats during the game. The only starter to play the whole game was outfielder Ben Zobrist who played all three outfield positions. Starter Mike Montgomery was pulled after three scoreless innings and was replaced by John Lackey out of the pen as a possible precursor to the playoffs. The scoring started in the 4th inning after a Joey Votto double with one out was followed by an Adam Duvall double putting the Reds ahead. The top of the next frame saw Rob Zastryzny on the bump and quickly found himself in trouble as the Reds put runners on 2nd and 3rd with no one out, and Zastryzny was able to limit the damage to just one run after a RBI groundouts from pitcher Deck McGuire. Trying to make it runs in three straight innings the Reds once again jumped on Zastryzny in the 6th and saw Scooter Gennett come through with a one-out single with runners on the corners. The 9th saw baserunners again for the Reds against Dillon Maples with two on and two out. The inning ended on a review of an out call at third. The play was not overturned as Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton ended his season with 59 steals on 72 attempts. One shy of Dee Gordon for the major league lead. The Cubs would get on the board in the bottom of the frame against Rasiel Iglasies in the 9th after Albert Almora Jr. hit a solo homer in to break the shutout. He continues his hot stretch and looks to be in line for more playing time in the postseason. The Cubs offense was stymied as they mustered just three hits and four baserunners in the game as they used 15 different position players and five different pitchers in total in the most meaningless game since the end of March. The Good: No one on the Cubs, regulars to September call-ups, left the game due to injury. Staying healthy was the most important thing today, and we saw the players evidently aware of that today. The Bad: Seven left on base for the Cubs lineup as they stranded runners on the corners with one out in the first. They weren't able to get locked in with the lineup circus. Timely hitting is key in the playoffs. What's Next: The Cubs will be back in action Friday against the Washington Nationals in Game 1 of the NLDS. Game time TBD.
