Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds Box Score on Aug 24, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Aug 24, 2017

CINCINNATI -- Jose Peraza drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a pinch-hit, bases-loaded double in the eighth inning, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds avoided a sweep in the three-game series.

With two outs in the eighth and Pedro Strop (3-4) on the mound for the Cubs, Eugenio Suarez was intentionally walked to load the bases.

Peraza crushed a ball to center that eluded Ian Happ and bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double, driving in two runs to put Cincinnati up 3-2. Suarez later scored on Strop's wild pitch to make the score 4-2.

Michael Lorenzen (8-2) struck out three in a scoreless top of the eighth to earn the victory. Raisel Iglesias blanked the Cubs in the ninth for his 24th save.

Happ homered for Chicago (68-58), which had its five-game winning streak snapped. The Cubs lead the second-place Milwaukee Brewers by three games in the National League Central.

With two outs in the sixth, the Reds chose to intentionally walk Happ after Reds starter Sal Romano fell behind three balls and no strikes. However, Javier Baez came through with a sharp single to left, driving home Bryant to put Chicago ahead 2-1.

Cincinnati (54-74) appeared to be on the verge of tying the score in the bottom of the sixth when Zack Cozart singled and sprinted toward home on Joey Votto's double. But a perfect relay from Baez nabbed Cozart at home for the first out of the inning.

Romano retired the Cubs in order on only nine pitches in the first inning.

With one out in the second, Happ launched Romano's first pitch into the right field seats, putting the Cubs ahead 1-0. Happ, a University of Cincinnati product, has 19 home runs in 83 games during his rookie season.

Chicago's Jake Arrieta struck out the first four batters he faced and had six through three innings.

There were a couple hard-hit balls in the span. Bryant made a diving catch on Suarez's line drive to end the second inning. Jesse Winker's drive to left field in the third pushed Kyle Schwarber back to the wall.

Arrieta's no-hit bid lasted until the fourth when Votto's one-out RBI single drove home Zack Cozart who reached second on Bryant's error at third base, tying the score 1-1.

Arrieta allowed one run (unearned), four hits and three walks while striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings. Romano yielded two runs, six hits and three walks while striking out seven in seven innings.

NOTES: Cubs LHP Jon Lester remains on schedule to throw a bullpen session Friday in Philadelphia. He has been on the disabled list with lat tightness and shoulder fatigue. ... Cubs 3B Kris Bryant returned to the lineup after missing the Wednesday game. He was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the ninth inning Tuesday. On Thursday, Bryant went 1-for-3 with a walk and a double. ... Reds C Stuart Turner is expected to go on the paternity list Friday when his wife is scheduled to be induced. ... Reds 1B Joey Votto has reached base in 28 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the major leagues.