Joey Votto, Reds win power struggle vs. Cubs

[July 28, 2021]    Joey Votto went 2-for-4 with a pair of solo home runs to power the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-4 win over the host Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (19) celebrates after hitting a solo home run against the Chicago Cubs during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suarez also homered for the Reds, who snapped a two-game skid. Kyle Farmer finished 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run home run to lead the Cubs. Patrick Wisdom and Kris Bryant each hit a solo homer, and Rafael Ortega went 2-for-3 with a double and a run.

Cincinnati right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez (5-3) limited Cubs hitters to two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He walked three and struck out five before giving way to the bullpen at the 109-pitch mark.

Chicago right-hander Adbert Alzolay (4-11) suffered his seventh loss in a row. He gave up four runs on seven hits in five innings. He walked none and struck out four.

The Reds jumped to a 2-0 lead with a pair of home runs in the first. Winker opened the scoring with his 21st homer, extending his career high, and Votto followed two batters later with another solo shot - the fourth straight game he had homered.

The Cubs pulled even at 2-2 in the bottom of the first. Rizzo pulled a 94 mph fastball to right field for his 14th homer of the season and his third in as many games.

Cincinnati pulled back in front, 3-2, after Tyler Naquin doubled to deep right field and came in to score on a single by Farmer.

Votto hit his second homer of the game and his 17th of the season to make it 4-2 in the third. It was his 312th career homer, which trails only Johnny Bench (389) and Frank Robinson (324) in team history.

In the sixth, Suarez joined the homer parade with a 398-foot blast to center field. It was his 19th homer.

Cincinnati added two more runs in the ninth to make it 7-2. Aristides Aquino ripped a double to left to score Farmer, and Jonathan India doubled in the next at-bat to score Aquino.

The Cubs pulled within 7-4 in the bottom of the ninth after solo home runs by Wisdom and Bryant. It was the 15th homer of the season for Wisdom and the 18th for Bryant.

--Field Level Media

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