Cubs rally in 8th, but fall to Reds 10-8
Rookie Todd Frazier doubled twice and drove in four runs, Aroldis Chapman came out of the bullpen to stop an eighth-inning rally attempt and the Cincinnati Reds beat the sloppy Cubs 10-8 Friday to end their season-high losing streak at five games.
Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run homer into a 24 mph wind in the third against Justin Germano (1-2) as the NL Central leaders built a 5-1 lead. Ludwick also doubled, walked and matched his career best with four runs.
Chicago lost for the ninth time in 10 games and made five errors — by five players — that led to two unearned runs. It was the Cubs' sloppiest game in the field since they made six errors in a 9-8 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sept. 12, 2006, according to STATS LLC.
Homer Bailey (10-7) won for the first time in four starts since July 20, allowing four runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings. He set his career high for wins, topping last year's nine.
After Chicago closed to 9-8 with a pair of runs in the eighth, Chapman struck out Anthony Rizzo with a runner on third. Chapman retired the side in order in the ninth for his 26th save in 30 chances and 18th in a row. He has a 0.18 ERA against NL clubs this season.
Germano gave up six runs — four earned — and seven hits in 5 2-3 innings. Catcher Welington Castillo, shortstop Starlin Castro, center fielder Brett Jackson, first baseman Rizzo and third baseman Josh Vitters made errors. All three Cubs rookies in the starting lineup had errors.
Alfonso Soriano, who drove in three runs, put the Cubs ahead with an RBI grounder in the first. Frazier, second among big league rookies with 15 homers and 47 RBIs, tied it with an RBI double in the second and scored on Bailey's single to put the Reds ahead for good.
Ludwick's homer made it 4-1 in the third and gave him 24 RBIs since 2010 NL MVP Joey Votto got hurt his left knee on July 15. The Reds, who stopped a four-game road skid, tacked on another run on three errors, the last a routine roller that went under the glove of shortstop Starlin Castro.
Drew Stubbs reached on an infield single with two outs in the sixth and stole second, with Castillo's throw skipping into center field. The ball also eluded Jackson as Stubbs came around to score.
Castro was thrown out at third base in the sixth after losing track of Vitters' single to right. Castro was booed when he batted in the seventh, then hit a two-run double.
Castillo had a pair of RBI hits — the latter a double in the seventh that came two pitches after his popup into the middle of the infield was blown into the first-base stands.
NOTES: Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker sat slumping outfielder Jay Bruce, who is hitless in his last 12 at-bats with seven strikeouts. Baker said Bruce's slump is "like being in quicksand." Xavier Paul started for Bruce. ... Reds 3B Scott Rolen was held out of the lineup for a third straight game due to a sore back. ... Soriano has driven in 15 runs in his last 16 games at Wrigley Field.