Cubs beat Reds for third straight win

[August 04, 2023]  Jameson Taillon tossed five solid innings to win his third consecutive start as the Chicago Cubs beat the visiting Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Thursday.
 
Cody Bellinger, Ian Happ, Christopher Morel, Jeimer Candelario and Yan Gomes each drove in a run for Chicago, which won three straight after opening the four-game series with a 6-5 loss. The Cubs have 13 victories in their past 16 games and have won five straight series.  

Aug 3, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) slides into second base with a double against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports

Taillon (6-6) allowed two runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Adbert Alzolay recorded the final four outs for his 13th save in 14 opportunities.

Elly De La Cruz homered on the first pitch of the game for Cincinnati, which concluded its 10-game road trip with a 4-6 mark. Spencer Steer added a solo homer in the eighth inning.

After scoring a total of 36 runs in back-to-back wins on Tuesday and Wednesday, Chicago made the most of its seven hits in the series finale.

The Cubs tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first against Luke Weaver (2-4) on consecutive doubles by Nico Hoerner and Happ. Weaver ran into trouble again in the third inning, when the Cubs scored three runs on one hit.

Bellinger delivered a two-out single to put Chicago ahead before Weaver walked Dansby Swanson to load the bases. After two runs scored on consecutive walks to Morel and Candelario, Reds manager David Bell was ejected for arguing balls and strikes with plate umpire Derek Thomas.

Cincinnati pushed a run across in the fourth inning when Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit a leadoff single, moved to third on Will Benson's single and scored on Luke Maile's double-play grounder.

Weaver was lifted after giving up a leadoff single in the fourth inning. He allowed four runs on four hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

Chicago added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning against Fernando Cruz when Swanson hit a leadoff double, moved to third on Candelario's single and scored on Gomes' sacrifice fly.

Cincinnati struck out 14 times and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

--Field Level Media

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