Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (5/16/19): Cubs 2, Reds 4 – Rain Dampens Getaway Day
With Ben Zobrist (restricted list) and Anthony Rizzo (back) still out, Kyle Schwarber led off for the Cubs tonight. There was a little good news on the active roster front, as Victor Caratini came back to start at first base just five weeks after breaking a bone in his hand.
Kris Bryant drew a walk from Luis Castillo in the top of the 1st to give the Cubs some early hope. Subsequent doubles from Javier Baez and Willson Contreras, both of which hugged the third base line, drove in Bryant and then Báez, sending the Cubs ahead 2-0.
José Quintana was dealing until the bottom of the 5th inning, when Jose Peraza hit a solo home run to put Cincinnati on the board. A few batters later, Castillo scored on a wild pitch, tying the game up 2-2.
After Schwarber lined out to Eugenio Suarez in the top of the 6th, the game was delayed due to rain, with the Reds up 3-2. It resumed nearly two hours later, but you probably don’t want to know anything about what happened after that. (Box Score)
Why the Cubs Lost
The offense didn’t have an opportunity to bounce back from the bottom of the 6th and couldn’t get anything going if it wasn’t due to luck.
Key Moment
Quintana lost his composure after the home run by Peraza, giving up a pair of singles and throwing two wild pitches to allow three runs to score.
Stats that Matter
- 13 – the number of Cubs strikeouts
- 6 – the number of Cubs starters with two strikeouts
- 2 – hits for the Cubs in both the 1st and 6th innings, the only ones they got
- 5 – the number of hits Tyler Chatwood gave up in two innings of relief
- 1:51 – the length of the rain delay
- 1 – the number of series the Cubs have lost in their last nine
On Deck
The Cubs head to DC to face the Nationals on Friday night at 6:05pm CT. Cole Hamels opens the series against Max Scherzer on 670 The Score and WGN.
