Castillo caps Cubs comeback, down Reds in 10 innings
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Welington Castillo plated the go-ahead run with a two-out double in the top of the 10th inning, and the Chicago Cubs avoided a three-game sweep with a 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.
The Cubs overcame a four-run deficit with some clutch two-out hitting to snap a season-worst six-game losing streak.
Scott Hairston drew a two-out walk to extend the 10th for Castillo, who grounded a J.J. Hoover (0-4) pitch past third baseman Todd Frazier and into the left-field corner.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"A four-run deficit against that team, to come back -- we got some big hits," Chicago manager Dale Sveum said.
Kevin Gregg (1-0) recorded the final out with two runners aboard in the ninth and worked out of a jam in the bottom of the 10th. He issued a one-out walk to Frazier before pinch-hitter Jack Hannahan reached on catcher's interference.
The Reds, who failed to get a hit after the fifth inning, couldn't capitalize on their opportunity as Ryan Hanigan flied out and Donald Lutz grounded out.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cincinnati, which had its win streak end at five games, got a solid performance from Johnny Cueto. The right-hander held the Cubs scoreless through the first six innings, but Luis Valbuena started Chicago's rally with a two-out RBI single off Cueto in the seventh.
"We went as far as we could with Johnny," Baker said of Cueto.
The Reds appeared headed for a clean eighth inning when reliever Logan Ondrusek retired the first two batters. Starlin Castro, though, kept the frame alive with a single and scored on a double by Anthony Rizzo. Alfonso Soriano then tied things up with a home run to center field.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cincinnati plated all its runs in the fourth inning against Chicago starter Matt Garza.
Jay Bruce got the scoring started with his seventh home run of the season, a lined smash to the right-field seats.
Garza then hit the next batter, Frazier, before walking Xavier Paul in front of Hanigan, who sent a Garza pitch to center field for an RBI single. David DeJesus nearly made an acrobatic catch on the play, but the ball was just out of his reach.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}After throwing a wild pitch, Garza fanned Cueto for the second out. With first base open, the Cubs opted to intentionally walk Shin-Soo Choo in order to face Zack Cozart. The move backfired, however, as Cozart delivered a two-run double to left.
Garza was removed after the Reds' fourth-inning outburst, and like Cueto, made his second start since a stint on the disabled list. He gave up four hits, walked four and struck out seven.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Cubs beat the Reds for only the third time in the last 19 matchups ... Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips went 0-for-4 to snap his hitting streak at 12 games ... Cueto scattered four hits and walked two ... The Reds left 11 men on base.