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Cubs, Reds Hope for Stellar June After Disappointing May
One-run games have been a thistle in the side of the Cincinnati Reds this season, as they entered Friday’s down against the Chicago Cubs on a 10-game series of failures in such close challenges. In any case, that streak finished with a completely exhilarating 5-4 triumph, denoting the Reds’ fifth success in their beyond seven games and giving a positive finish to a difficult 9-18 May.
The Reds aim to build on this newfound momentum in the second game of their three-game series on Saturday in Chicago.
“It’s just momentum,” Cincinnati’s TJ Friedl said. “We’re going to carry that momentum into the month of June and just ride that momentum.”
Friday’s Game Recap
Following by one in the seventh inning, Cincinnati held onto their most memorable lead when special hitter Santiago Espinal sent off a two-run grand slam, making the score 4-3. The Reds added a protection run in the 10th, with Jacob Hurtubise scoring on a solitary by Friedl.
In the bottom half of the ninth, Seiya Suzuki doubled to the left-field corner, pulling the Cubs within one run. Nick Madrigal nearly tied the game but was thrown out at the plate by a 93.3 mph throw from Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
“Watching him last year and watching his transition and watching him grow, he’s done incredible,” Friedl said of De La Cruz. “At this point, I don’t think there’s anything that’s too out of the ordinary, but when he makes crazy plays or does crazy things like that, it’s just Elly being Elly. It’s just what he does. He’s awesome.”
De La Cruz, at just 22 years old, had 154 assists in 69 games as a rookie shortstop in 2023 and has already amassed 111 assists through 57 games this season, highlighting his talent and potential impact in the MLB.
Pitching Matchup
Hunter Greene (3-2, 3.06 ERA) will start Saturday’s game for Cincinnati. The right-hander has a solid track record against the Cubs, going 3-1 with a 3.43 ERA in four career appearances, striking out 30 while allowing eight runs on 11 hits.
The Cubs, on the other hand, are looking to avoid a sixth consecutive series loss. They have lost three straight games and ended May with a 10-18 record, dropping 11 of their last 14 games in the MLB.
Cubs’ Struggles and Reactions
Chicago’s third base coach Willie Harris took responsibility for a critical moment on Friday, describing it as a “bad send” when he waved in Madrigal from first base. Despite this, the players recognize the need to improve their overall performance.
“Willie’s one of the best third-base coaches in the game,” Madrigal said. “This time, it didn’t work. It’s a team game. We have this group and we believe in each other.”
The Cubs’ offensive struggles were evident as they recorded eight hits but went just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position through eight innings.
“Our batting average on contact is [near] the worst in baseball,” president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer noted this week. “… I kind of look at the track record of this group. It was a really good offense last year. And there’s a lot of players with track records of performing above this level. … I think that the stuff we faced this month has been really good. But ultimately, you have to beat those pitchers to end up where we want to go.”
Steele on the Mound
The Cubs will turn to left-hander Justin Steele (0-2, 4.45 ERA) on Saturday. Steele has struggled against the Reds in his career, with a 2-3 record and a 7.53 ERA in eight appearances (six starts).
Conclusion
As both the Reds and Cubs hope to turn their seasons around in June, Saturday’s down will be significant for establishing the vibe. With Cincinnati wanting to exploit their new energy and Chicago endeavoring to defeat their new battles, the matchup vows to be an astonishing challenge in the MLB. The two groups are anxious to begin June on a high note, going for the gold month after a frustrating May. Devotees of the MLB will observe near perceive how these groups change and contend in what makes certain to be a critical game in the series.
