Heading down to the ballpark yesterday morning, I’m not sure what I expected. I think I may have even posted that I was going with an open mind. Entering the game, the Cubs were in the middle of a 3-game losing streak and were facing a sweep. At 23-29, Cincinnati wasn’t much better than the Cubs (22-29). Furthermore, they were sending a guy, Graham Ashcraft who had been struggling (5+ ERA and a 2-3 record).

Since all the rule changes and security modifications, fans aren’t allowed to bring brooms into Wrigley. Not sure how many broom incidents there have been over the years. In the past, visiting fans that snuck brooms into the park provided a different energy-which often extended to the field of play. The hometown fans saw this as an affront and would shout out the visitors as they attempted to sweep the home team.

After a quick pregame snack at Mexicano Burrito, I worked my way over to Gallagher Way. It’s a little easier to wait in line there instead of teetering on Addison as cars zoom by. Without doing a head count, I noted the smaller Reds representation than usual. Maybe they didn’t want to travel to see the battle for 5th place?

Being a Sunday afternoon and the series finale, the only BP was private. Multi-millionaire, Joey Votto was getting in some swings against a Freddie Norman/Donnie Joseph wanna-be. After finishing, the uber-villain accommodated several on-field fans with pictures and signatures-a nice touch.

Aside from the company of friend Jon, one of the things I was hoping to see was rookie phenom, Matt Mervis. A day later, I’m not sure why the lefty first baseman didn’t get a chance against the very mortal, Ashcraft. Thankfully, Christopher Morel was in the lineup albeit as the DH.

Initially I was surprised that 7 of the 10 starters in the Reds lineup were homegrown talent-either draft picks or international free agent-Jose Barrero. Like the Cubs, they’re currently in the midst of a rebuild-even if neither team will admit to it.

Cutting to the chase, Cub starter, Drew Smyly never had it. He lacked both command and control and the aggressive Reds hitters took advantage almost immediately. Cincinnati got on the board first with two runs in the 2nd inning. Left fielder, Stuart Fairchild got things rolling with a one out double. He stole third almost immediately-as much a sign of what was to come. The Cubs looked flat and the Reds alive and kicking. Perpetual prospect, Nick Senzel drove him in and scored a few batters later.

I’d say the Cubs responded in the bottom of the 2nd but that would be folly. Patrick Wisdom responded with a majestic 3-run shot to left. Cubs up 3-2, but not for long. Leadoff man, and the bane to the Cubs existence weekend doubled and scored on rookie shortstop Matt McClain’s double. It was the second of McClain’s rockets on the day. And despite the feelings of the Reds fan next to me, really a nice-looking player.

Ordinarily, a guy like Smyly would lock down the opposing team after his guys gave him back the lead. Not yesterday!

Cincinnati tacked on an additional 5 runs (2 off Smyly and three off the battered bullpen). The Reds took advantage of sloppy play and poor decision making by the Cubs manager. Players must execute and can’t be excused for failing to do so. However, managers and systems don’t always make the best choices. Furthermore, the failures in the bullpen haven’t been remedied by the great “pitching lab” we hear so much about.

Cincinnati got a little bit of everything from most everyone in the lineup. India was 1-4 with 2 runs scored, rookie McClain was 4-5 with a double, RBI and run scored, first baseman, Spencer Steer was 2-5 with a 2-run, sixth-inning homer off reliever, Brandon Hughes.

Matt McClain one of his four hits on the day.

Fairchild was 1-2 with the double, stolen base and run scored and his replacement, TJ Friedl was 2-3 with a double, RBI and run scored. More importantly, he was racing around the bases and played a nice outfield. Senzel went 2-3 with 2 RBI and almost flawless fielding at third. Second baseman, Kevin Newman reached base safely 5 times.

The Reds had 14 hits and walked 7 time but hit into 3 double plays-one of which was very odd and a product of some really poor baserunning. With runners on second and third with only one out in the top of the ninth, Jake Fraley hit a ball up the middle which Hoerner fielded cleanly and threw home to cut down the runner on third. Instead, Senzel returned to third where Newman was standing. Both runners were tagged out as one of them stupidly left the bag.

The Cubs bats were hardly silent during innings 3-7, but they couldn’t do anything until the 8th. After Wisdom’s 2nd inning blast, I kept predicting more 3-run homers. Unfortunately, a very odd play at first cost him the chance. It looked like the umpires and New York got a call wrong on a grounder that Morel appeared to beat out. Instead, Wisdom’s second blast accounted for only 2 runs.

Closer, Alexis Diaz struck out 3 of the 4 batters in the 9th for his 8th save and a 8-5 Reds win and sweep. The bright spots for the Cubs were Wisdom’s home runs and local kid, Michael Tauchman’s 3-4 day. Tauchman’s story is nice and he’s off to a good start, but I don’t think he’s a part of the long-term solution.

The win pushed the Reds into 3rd place in the division and the Cubs took sole possession of 5th. Ashcraft pitched well enough for the win-sometimes a starting pitcher needs to battle through for a win. McClain looks more promising than the various shortstops the Reds have auditioned since Zack Cozart left town in 2018.

Pictured above, Alexis Diaz and Michael Tauchman.

Due to the several pitching changes, lapses on the field and in the dugout, the game took 3 hours and 15 minutes. The weather was perfect and 40, 551 fans got their money’s worth. There is nothing like an afternoon at Wrigley!