Cincinnati @ Chicago preview
Wrigley Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 1, 2010 ) Cincinnati 3, Chi. Cubs 2
Dusty Baker probably can’t help but smile when looking at where he currently is following a bitter split from his previous employer.
In his current gig, Baker has the Cincinnati Reds (45-35) playing some of the best baseball in the majors at the moment and sitting atop the standings in the National League Central.
At his previous post as manager of the Chicago Cubs, Baker’s tenure was largely considering a disappointment that ended three years after the manager had the Cubs within four outs of the World Series in 2003.
While Baker claims to not harbor any ill feelings towards his former team, even though many Chicago fans still harbor those feelings against him, it has to give Baker some extra satisfaction when he goes out and beats the Cubs.
That’s precisely what the Reds did in Thursday’s opener of a four-game set when Jay Bruce brought home the winning run in the 10th inning with a fielder’s choice for a 3-2 victory. The win was the Reds ninth consecutive extra-innings road triumph, the longest in baseball since Atlanta achieved the feat in 1999-2000.
And with it, the Reds are now winners of eight of their last 10 and gaining separation over the struggling Cubs (34-45), who fell to 11 games below .500 for the first time since the conclusion of the 2006 campaign - Baker’s final year on the job.
Much of Chicago’s ailments have been offensively as the team has scored two runs or less in 10 of 12 contests. In Thursday’s defeat they managed just five hits despite facing a pitcher in Travis Wood, who was making his major league debut.
The Cubs will try to turn their fortunes around as they face Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo (7-4, 4.49 ERA), which could pose a difficult proposition. Arroyo has thrived pitching at Wrigley Field, going 4-1 with a 2.77 ERA in his past six starts there.
Arroyo took a loss in his last outing, allowing four runs in five innings against Cleveland.
He will be banking on the support of first baseman Joey Votto, who singled on Thursday and now has reached base safely in 39 straight games.
Doing his best to slow him down will be Cubs starter Ryan Dempster (6-6, 3.58 ERA). The veteran right-hander has yet to win consecutive starts, but will be aiming to do so following seven strong innings against the Chicago White Sox his last time out.
Dempster has fared well when facing the Reds for the most part in his career, but was tagged for five runs in seven innings of a loss on May 9.