Darvish finally gets Wrigley win as Cubs top Reds

[July 18, 2019]    Kris Bryant and Addison Russell hit solo home runs, and Yu Darvish snapped his drought at Wrigley Field with six scoreless innings in the Chicago Cubs' 5-2 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday afternoon.

Cubs starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports

Darvish (3-4) turned in his second straight outing of two-hit ball over six scoreless innings. He struck out seven Wednesday and got his first career win at Wrigley after 13 starts without one as a member of the Cubs. He had never before pitched in a win at Wrigley, including a loss with the Texas Rangers in 2016.

Darvish also earned his first win this season since April 27 after 12 no-decisions and a loss.

"It feels good," Bryant said of helping Darvish get the elusive home win. "He's pitching like an ace right now. He's just so focused."

The Cubs have won five of six since returning from the All-Star break.

Bryant became the third Cub to reach 20 home runs with his first-inning blast. Russell hit his sixth in the second inning. Jason Heyward contributed a two-run double off Reds reliever David Hernandez in the seventh.

Sonny Gray (5-6) took the loss despite striking out eight in six innings. The only two hits he allowed were the home runs.

The Reds rallied with two runs in the eighth on Jose Peraza's double and a run-scoring singles from Nick Senzel and Yasiel Puig, but Phillip Ervin grounded into an inning-ending double play with the tying runs on base.

Reds outfielder Derek Dietrich was hit by a Darvish pitch in the right knee in the fifth inning and was removed from the game for a pinch runner. It was the 21st time Dietrich has been hit this season, which leads the majors.

The Reds hurt themselves with baserunning mistakes. Senzel doubled to lead off the sixth and was at third base with one out when Eugenio Suarez grounded to third. Cubs third baseman David Bote threw home for the tag on Senzel.

The Reds had runners at first and second in the seventh, but with two outs, Cubs catcher Victor Caratini picked off Jose Iglesias, the runner at first base, to end the inning.

Anthony Rizzo reached on an error in the bottom of the eighth, allowing Javier Baez to score the Cubs' fifth run. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

--Field Level Media

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