Jason Vosler leads Reds to win over Cubs

 

[April 04, 2023]  Jason Vosler, who began the night on the bench, delivered a clutch three-run homer and made a game-saving stab of a line drive to lead the Cincinnati Reds past the visiting Chicago Cubs 7-6 on Monday.

Alex Young (1-0) finished the fifth inning to earn the win. Derek Law pitched out of a two-out jam in the ninth to earn his first major league save since Sept. 18, 2019, when he was with the Toronto Blue Jays.

With two outs in the ninth, Law allowed back-to-back singles before Vosler at first base snared pinch hitter Miles Mastrobuoni's line drive to end the game.

Vosler entered the game in the second inning as a pinch runner when starting center fielder Jose Barrero left with right hamstring tightness following a single to left field. Vosler scored later in the inning.

The Reds, who opened 2022 with a major-league-worst 3-22 mark, won their third straight to move to 3-1. It's the first time they are two games over .500 since finishing the 2021 season with an 83-79 mark.

The Cubs wasted no time getting after Cincinnati starter Connor Overton. Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson opened the game with singles.

Following a strikeout of Ian Happ, Cody Bellinger snapped an 0-for-11 start to the season by hammering a hanging curveball from Overton into the seats in right for a 3-0 Cubs lead.

The Reds responded in kind off Cubs starter Drew Smyly (0-1). Jonathan India worked a leadoff walk. The Reds then rattled off four consecutive singles to tie the game, featuring an RBI single from Wil Myers and a two-run single from Kevin Newman that leveled the score at 3-3.

Apr 3, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds first baseman Jason Vosler (32) high fives designated hitter Tyler Stephenson (37) after hitting a three-run home run in the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

After the Reds took a 4-3 lead in the second, the Cubs chased Overton in the fifth when Swanson singled and Happ doubled to open the inning. With runners at second and third, Trey Mancini's groundout tied the game at 4-4, before Eric Hosmer's two-out, two-run double off Young scored Happ and Patrick Wisdom for a 6-4 Cubs lead.

But the Reds again had an immediate answer against Smyly. Tyler Stephenson opened with single, and Stuart Fairchild was hit by a pitch with one out. With two outs, Vosler lifted a Smyly sinker to the opposite field and the ball landed several rows back in left field for his second homer and a 7-6 Cincinnati lead.

Smyly took his first loss in six career decisions against the Reds, allowing seven runs -- six earned -- on nine hits, striking out three and walking two over 4 2/3 innings.

--Field Level Media

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