The Sports Xchange
Aug 17, 2017
CHICAGO -- Javier Baez scored the winning run on a two-out wild pitch by Cincinnati Reds reliever Blake Wood as the Chicago Cubs claimed a 7-6 walk-off victory on Wednesday night.
The Cubs posted their fourth walk-off victory of the season and first on a wild pitch. The Reds lost on a walk-off wild pitch for the second time on their current road trip.
Baez led off the ninth with a double against Reds reliever Wandy Peralta. Pinch hitter Jon Jay walked on four pitches, and Ben Zobrist advanced the runners to third and second with a fielder's choice grounder.
Wood entered and struck out Albert Almora Jr. on four pitches before he threw the wild pitch to Kris Bryant on a 1-0 count.
Chicago closer Wade Davis (3-1) worked one scoreless inning for the victory. Peralta (3-3) took the loss after yielding one run in 1 1/3 innings.
Anthony Rizzo went 2-for-4 with his third career grand slam. Rizzo's team-leading 28th home run of the season gave the Cubs a 4-1 first-inning lead.
Reds first baseman Joey Votto saw his bid to match a record held by Ted Williams fall short as he went 1-for-4. Votto had reached base at least twice in a game in 20 consecutive games until Wednesday.
Williams' record, set in 1948, is 21 games.
Neither starter factored into the decision.
Cubs right-hander John Lackey, seeking a win in his sixth straight start, was pulled in the sixth for pinch hitter Tommy La Stella, who doubled home Jason Heyward for a 6-1 lead.
After a shaky start, Lackey ended up allowing just one run and four hits while striking out six and walking three in six innings.
Reds right-hander Homer Bailey was pulled after La Stella's hit. Bailey allowed six runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings, walking five and striking out 10 while throwing 109 pitches.
Cincinnati right fielder Phillip Ervin clubbed his first major league hit and home run on a first pitch from reliever Hector Rondon with two outs in the seventh inning.
Zack Cozart followed with a two-run homer to left, driving in Billy Hamilton to cut the margin to 6-4. Rondon was pulled in favor of Brian Duensing, who got Votto to ground out to end the inning.
In the eighth, Reds pinch hitter Adam Duvall forced a 6-6 tie with a two-run homer off Carl Edwards Jr. with one out that also drove in Eugenio Suarez.
NOTES: Reds OF Scott Schebler went 0-for-2 with an RBI on Tuesday in a rehab appearance for Triple-A Louisville. He has been on the disabled list since Aug. 1 with a left shoulder strain. ... Reds 1B Joey Votto's consecutive game streak reaching base two or more times in a game included an 17-game hitting streak that was snapped Sunday at Milwaukee. ... Cincinnati RHP Scott Feldman (7-7, 4.43 ERA) opposes Cubs LHP Jon Lester (8-7, 3.99 ERA) on Thursday in the series finale. ... Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo's grand slam was his first since Sept. 4, 2015, against Arizona. All three of his slams have come at Wrigley Field.