Game Seventy-Five – Cubs 11, Reds 8
WP – Jake Arrieta (12-2) LP – Dan Straily (4-5) Save – None
Kris Bryant launched three home runs, hit two doubles and drove in six runs in a perfect 5-for-5 night at the plate. Anthony Rizzo went back-to-back with Bryant in the eighth inning. The Cubs scored seven of the 11 runs on two out hits and outlasted the Reds on Monday night in Cincinnati.
Kris Bryant (5-for-5 with three home runs, two doubles, four runs scored and six RBI) put the Cubs on his back on a night that Jake Arrieta did not have it. Bryant drove in six of the 11 runs while putting his name in the history books.
Kris Bryant became the youngest player in Cubs history to hit three home runs in a single game. Bryant is the first player in the history of the game to hit three home runs and two doubles in the same game. And the 16 total bases Bryant had on Monday night set a new franchise record. Bryant also played three different positions in the field. Bryant started the game at third base, moved to right and finished the game in left field.
Kris Bryant gave the Cubs an early lead with a double in the first inning that allowed Jason Heyward (2-for-5 with two runs scored and a RBI) to score. Bryant scored the second run on a sacrifice fly by Miguel Montero (0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly RBI).
Kris Bryant started playing longball in the third inning. Bryant hit the first of three homers, a solo shot in the third inning that gave the Cubs a short lived 3-2 lead. The Reds tied the game at three in the bottom of the third.
Jason Heyward actually put the Cubs ahead for good on Monday night. Heyward singled to left center with two down in the fourth. Chris Coghlan (1-for-4 with a run scored) scored and the Cubs took a 4-3 lead.
Kris Bryant followed Heyward and launched a 1-0 pitch from Dan Straily. The ball ended up in the upper deck at Great American Ball Park. And the Cubs took a 7-3 lead.
Jake Arrieta (2-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored) went yard in the fifth with an opposite field shot. Arrieta started the fifth with an 8-3 lead. Arrieta issued his second walk of the night to Billy Hamilton and Joey Votto hit his first of two longballs on the night, a two-run homer to right. With the Cubs lead down to 8-5, Arrieta did not return for the sixth inning.
The Cubs kept tacking on and it turned out Joe Maddon’s team would need just about every one of the 11 runs they scored.
The Reds scored single runs in the sixth and seventh off Trevor Cahill and Travis Wood. The game went to the eighth with the Cubs clinging to an 8-7 lead.
Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo hit back-to-back jacks with two outs off Ross Ohlendorf. Bryant’s third homer of the night ended up in the upper deck. And Rizzo’s shot came close to leaving Great American Ball Park.
Javier Baez (1-for-1 with a RBI) singled in Albert Almora Jr. (1-for-1 with a run scored) in the ninth inning to cap the Cubs’ scoring on the night.
The Reds did not quit. Joey Votto cranked his second homer of the game in the ninth off Joel Peralta. Joe Maddon had to call on Hector Rondon to record the final out. Rondon induced a pop out to Javier Baez at third base off the bat of Adam Duvall to end the game.
Jake Arrieta had another rough night on the mound. Arrieta completed only five innings due to a high pitch count (93 pitches, 54 strikes). Arrieta struggled with his mechanics which led to really poor control once again. Arrieta walked five and four of the free baserunners scored. Arrieta gave up four hits, and retired the Reds in order only once (second inning) Monday night.
Arrieta allowed runs in three of the five innings he completed. And twice let the Reds tie the game in the next half inning after the Cubs took the lead.
Arrieta homered in the fifth, an opposite field shot for his second longball of the season. While it was good to see Arrieta go yard again, especially to right field, his performance on the mound was so concerning that it overshadowed another fun moment for this Cubs’ team.
Willson Contreras (2-for-4 with a walk) reached base three times and finished the game behind the plate.
The Cubs scored 11 runs on 17 hits on what will be known and remembered as The Kris Bryant Game.
With Monday’s win, the Cubs improved to 49-26 on the season.
Jon Lester takes on lefty John Lamb on Tuesday night (6:10pm CDT).