Littell and Steer help the Reds top the sagging Cubs 5-1
[August 06, 2025]
By MATT CARLSON
CHICAGO (AP) — Zack Littell struck out eight in seven
crisp innings in his Cincinnati debut, and the Reds beat the slumping
Chicago Cubs 5-1 on Tuesday night.
Littell (9-8) allowed three hits and walked two in his first start since
he was acquired in a trade with Tampa Bay last week. |
Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer, center, celebrates with Austin Hays,
left, and Miguel Andujar after hitting a three-run home run during the
seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago,
Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) |
|
Spencer Steer hit a tiebreaking three-run homer
in Cincinnati's four-run seventh. The Reds (60-54) won for the
third time in four games.
Matt Shaw homered for the Cubs (65-48), who finished with four
hits. They had just three hits in Monday night's 3-2 loss in the
series opener.
The Cubs have dropped three of four. They trail the NL
Central-leading Brewers by four games.
Steer singled home Miguel Andujar in the fifth, but Shaw
responded with his seventh homer in the bottom half of the
inning.
The Reds grabbed control in the seventh against Andrew Kittredge
(2-3). Austin Hays walked, Andujar singled and Steer hit a drive
to left-center for his 13th homer. Santiago Espinal added a
sacrifice fly.
It was Kittredge's third appearance since he was acquired in a
trade with Baltimore.
Andujar collected his first two hits with the Reds after coming
over in a trade deadline deal with the Athletics. TJ Friedl also
had two hits.
Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga struck out seven in 6 1/3
innings. He was charged with one run and three hits.
Key moment
The Cubs had a chance to grab an early lead, putting runners on
first and second with none out in the first. But Kyle Tucker,
Pete Crow-Armstrong and Willi Castro struck out swinging.
Key stat
The Reds went 3 for 5 with runners in scoring position. The Cubs
went 0 for 6 in those situations.
Up next
Reds All-Star LHP Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.15 ERA) faces Cubs
rookie RHP Cade Horton (5-2, 3.42 ERA) in the series finale on
Wednesday.
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