Hamels goes distance as Cubs down Reds
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[August 24, 2018]
Veteran southpaw Cole Hamels
notched his first complete game of the season and the 17th of his
career, and the Chicago Cubs cruised to a 7-1 win over the
Cincinnati Reds on Thursday night at Wrigley Field.
Anthony Rizzo and Javy Baez homered for the Cubs, who have gone deep
in a season-high eight consecutive games. Chicago owns the best
record in the National League at 73-53.
Phillip Ervin went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a stolen base to lead the
Reds. Cincinnati has lost two games in a row and seven of 11.
Hamels improved to 9-9 overall and 4-0 since the Cubs acquired him
July 27 from the Texas Rangers. In a masterful 114-pitch
performance, the 34-year-old limited the Reds to one run on eight
hits, walking two and striking out seven.
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He owns a 0.79 ERA (three earned runs in 34 innings) since the
trade.
Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (6-4) picked up the loss after
allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits in six innings. He
walked one and struck out five.
Cincinnati opened the scoring with a run in the first. Billy
Hamilton ripped a leadoff double, advanced to third base on a single
by Jose Peraza and scored on Ervin's infield single.
In the bottom of the first, Rizzo clubbed a two-run homer to put
Chicago on top 2-1. The blast marked his 21st homer of the season
and his third in as many days.
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![](../images/082418pics/sports71.jpg)
Cubs starting pitcher Cole Hamels (35) delivers in the first inning
against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt
Marton-USA TODAY Sports
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Baez hit a solo shot in the third to push the Cubs' lead to 3-1. The
25-year-old infielder has 27 home runs to go along with 93 RBIs,
which leads the NL.
Rizzo made it 4-1 when he hit a sacrifice fly to center field in the
fifth. He drove in Baez, who had doubled and stole third with one
out.
The Cubs broke the game open with three more runs in the seventh.
Ben Zobrist hit a run-scoring single to right field, and Victor
Caratini singled three batters later to plate Zobrist and Rizzo.
Chicago improved to 53-26 in games when it homers this season.
--Field Level Media
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