Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Anthony DeSclafani pitched seven strong innings as the Cincinnati Reds edged the Chicago Cubs, 3-2, in the second of a three-game set.
DeSclafani (1-0) allowed just two hits and two walks while striking out five, while Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Marlon Byrd each drove in a run for the Reds, who snapped a three-game slide.
"I felt pretty good all game and I had everything working," said DeSclafani. "The defense behind me was awesome tonight and really helped out a lot."
Welington Castillo's two-run home run accounted for the offense for the Cubs, who had a three-game winning streak broken. Jake Arrieta (1-1) took the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings.
"I think there was three or four balls that squeaked through," said Arrieta. "They were able to put some runs up on those. Aside from that I was able to limit the damage."
The game stayed scoreless until the fourth inning when the Reds went on top. Billy Hamilton led off with a single and swiped his eighth bag of the season. Votto followed with a single to score Hamilton and Brandon Phillips singled two batters later.
Bruce then singled to left to score Frazier, but was caught trying to stretch it to a double and Phillips wound up at third. Byrd then singled to left for a 3-0 lead.
DeSclafani faced the minimum through the first three innings and didn't allow his first hit until Jorge Soler singled with two outs in the fifth. Chris Coghlan then flied out to end the inning.
DeSclafani departed from the game after tossing a 1-2-3 seventh and Kevin Gregg took over in the eighth. Matt Szczur worked a leadoff walk and Castillo followed with his first home run of the season to make it a 3-2 game.
Gregg then got the next two batters out before Tony Cingrani took the mound and gave up a single to Anthony Rizzo and a walk to Soler. Cingrani, though, struck out Chris Coghlan to end the frame.
Aroldis Chapman allowed two batters to reach base in the ninth, but struck out the last two hitters to pick up his third save of the season.
Game Notes
Arrieta had not allowed an earned run in his previous three starts ... Phillips left the game in the fifth inning after a collision with Chicago's Starlin Castro on Bruce's single in the fourth inning. The team said Phillips left the game because he was feeling light headed ... Arrieta fell to 2-2 in four starts against the Reds.
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