By Hal McCoy
Contributing Writer
It is time for the Cincinnati Reds to put the Milwaukee Brewers in the rear-view mirror and focus their attention on the onrushing Chicago Cubs.
While the slumping Brewers lost again to the Washington Nationals, the Cubs once again flexed their muscles against the Reds Wednesday night in Wrigley Field.
The Reds led 3-0 and 5-2, then the Cubs assaulted the Cincinnati bullpen, scoring 14 runs with relief pitchers on the mound.
The result was a debilitating 16-6 defeat. Not only did the relief pitching crumble, the defense imploded with four errors, three by third baseman Nick Senzel.
While the Reds maintained their half-game lead over the Brewers, the Cubs are only three games behind after their 12th win in 15 games.
The Cubs obliterated the Reds, 20-9, Tuesday, but the Reds were never in it, just one of those games. And it was the first time a Cubs team scored 16 or more runs in back-to-back games since 1894.
But Wednesday loss was as disheartening to the Reds as any game this season.
The Cubs started left-hander Drew Smyly, who had a fast start this season but slumped in July and was relegated to the bulllpen.
He was making his first start in more than two weeks and the Reds took quick advantage.
Spencer Steer hit a two-out, two-strike home run in the first for a 2-0 Reds lead.
And every time Joey Votto seems lost at the plate, he emerges with a vengeance. He was 1 for 13 for his career against Smyly, but he cranked two home runs against him.
The first came in the second for the 3-0 lead.
The Cubs cut it to 3-2 in the third when Reds starter Brandon Williamson gave up a two-out, two-run home run to Christopher Morel.
Votto struck again in the fourth, a two-run home run, giving him 11 in the 34 games he has played. And that gave the Reds a 5-2 lead.
Williamson stilll had the 5-2 lead in the fifth. But he walked Jeimer Candelario and gave up a one-out single to Nico Hoerner.
Manager David Bell made what might be his most fatal decision of the season when he removed Williamson.
The Cubs scored one in the fourth and then came a deluge of Chiago runs.
They batted around in the sixth and in the seventh, scoring five in the sixth and four in the seventh.
For the second straight night Reds catcher Luke Maile mopped up on the mound and he gave up a pair of home runs to Ian Happ, his second of the game, and Seiya Suzuki.
After hitting seven home runs Tuesday, the Cubs hit five Wednesday.
Every Reds relief pitcher who appeared had his earned run average fluffed up.
Buck Farmer gave up two runs, two hits and a walk in two-thirds of an inning. Lucas Sims gave up three runs, three hits and a walk. Alex Young gave up four runs (two earned), four hits and two walks. And Maile gave up two runs and three hits (two homers).
For the Cubs it was hit, hit, hit and hit some more.
For the second straight game, Jeimer Candelario had four hits while playing his second game for the Cubs after he was traded by the Washington Nationals. And he scored four runs.
Morel, Happ and Suzuki contributed two each to Chicago’s 16-hit attack. And the home runs were hit by Happ (2), Morel, Dansby Swanson (his fourth in the first three games of the series) and Suzuki.
The Marlins GM said this about the trade deadline:
“There Aren’t that many times when you’re in this type of situation”, Ng said during the game. “Principal Owner Bruce Sherman and the entire ownership Group was completely supportive of us really going out there and spending money and making sure that we support these guys who for the first four months of the season, have absolutely just played their hearts out”. “When your in this type of situation, you just have to make sure that you treat that with care and that you understand how big a deal this is for the city and for the Marlins fans and for all of those guys downstairs, And you have to do what you can to improve the club”.. Sadly Our GM and Ownership group did not feel the same way.. They love for the fans to sell out, say they are buyers and Do NOTHING to help the needs of the starting rotation. Now we are down another starter with Lively injured and a taxed bullpen.. Krall you failed the team and the fans..you could add money of a starter without giving up alot of prospects for taking on salary.. Its a no brainer!!
Agree with Jim. Krall is a liar every time he moves his lips when it comes to improving this team. Yes, it’s been fun watching the youngsters do what they’ve done this year. And yes, every team needs pitching. And no, they weren’t gonna go after Scherzer or anyone else in that category. Yet, when retreads like Farmer, Sims, et al, couldn’t even get me out, & then Krall only adds another hack from the hapless A’s to bolster the bullpen, envision where the team will actually be in the standings here in the next week or so.
As they continue to lick their money hungry chops, the only thing Castellini & his pathetic front office haven’t done so far this year is have dollar hot dog nite. Don’t count on getting playoff tix again this year, Reds fans.
One more thing……
Question raised before the trade deadline was who’s available to trade. India’s name was the ONLY name tossed out there & now he’s hurt again. How about starting with Nick ‘I can’t catch or throw a damned ball’ Senzel, even when he’s healthy? My gawd! In the words of Johnny Bench….”Are you even trying?”