Santiago Espinal flirts with cycle as Reds sink Cubs

Field Level Media|published: Tue 30th July, 22:27 2024

Jul 30, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Nick Martinez (28) reacts after a play in the third inning against the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Santiago Espinal went 4-for-4 with a home run and fell a triple shy of the cycle to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-3 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night.

Espinal, who had two doubles, recorded his first career four-hit game. It was also his first game with three extra-base hits.

Nick Martinez (5-5) allowed four hits over four shutout innings in relief of opener Tony Santillan to earn the win. Martinez fanned three and walked none for the Reds, who shipped out right-hander Frankie Montas, their scheduled starter for Tuesday's game, before the trade deadline.

Alexis Diaz pitched a scoreless ninth for his 21st save in 23 chances.

TJ Friedl put Cincinnati up with a two-out, two-run single in the first. Tyler Stephenson added an RBI single during Cincinnati's three-run second, which came off Chicago starter Justin Steele (2-5).

Steele allowed five runs and six hits over five innings. He walked four and fanned seven.

Stephenson finished with three hits for the Reds, who are 7-2 against Chicago this season. The Cubs fell to 5-12 in Steele's 17 starts this year.

Following a leadoff walk by Noelvi Marte, the Reds extended their lead in the second when Espinal hit his seventh homer of 2024, putting it on top of the Chicago bullpen in right. With Cincinnati up 4-0, Stephenson singled home Jonathan India for a five-run lead.

Espinal added a leadoff double in the fourth and a single in the sixth but could not get a triple for the cycle, settling for his second double of the game in the eighth.

After being activated from the 10-day injured list on Monday, Cody Bellinger got Chicago on the board in the sixth with a two-run homer off right-hander Lyon Richardson.

Down 5-2, the Cubs mounted a threat with two outs in the seventh when they loaded the bases against relievers Justin Wilson and Fernando Cruz. Ian Happ scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-3, but the inning and rally ended when Isaac Paredes lined out softly to Elly De La Cruz at short.

--Field Level Media

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