Cincinnati Reds vs Chicago Cubs Box Score on Sep 29, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 29, 2017

CHICAGO -- Ian Happ went 2-for-4 with a three-run go-ahead homer in the eighth inning to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 5-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in Friday's opener of a three-game weekend series.

Happ's 24th home run of the season came on a 1-1 pitch off right-handed reliever Michael Lorenzen as the National League Central champion Cubs (91-69) won their third straight and fifth in six games.

Lorenzen (8-4) took the loss after working two-thirds of an inning as the Reds (67-93) dropped their ninth in 10 games.

Cubs reliever Brian Duensing (1-1) earned the win after working a scoreless eighth. Reliever Justin Grimm pitched a one-two-three ninth inning for his first save of the season.

Cubs starter Jose Quintana worked 4 2/3 innings and received a no-decision. Reds starter Robert Stephenson also didn't factor in a decision in his five-inning outing.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto continued his push for a National League batting title with a 2-for-4 afternoon and his 100th RBI.

He moved into a tie for second in the NL with the Dodgers' Justin Turner with a .321 average after Friday's victory. Colorado's Charlie Blackmon tops the league with a .328 average.

Tommy La Stella had a 2-for-4 afternoon for Chicago

The Cubs opened a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Quintana's sacrifice bunt drove in Happ and Jon Jay's subsequent sacrifice to center scored Alex Avila.

The Reds took a 4-2 lead in the fifth inning as Scott Schebler's single to right scored Jesse Winker and Tucker Barnhart followed with a base hit to center to bring home Jose Peraza to force a 2-2 tie.

Stephenson bunted into a double play but the Cubs couldn't get out of the inning as Quintana gave up an RBI single to Phillip Ervin, scoring Barnhart, and left the game.

Votto greeted right-handed reliever Felix Pena with a base hit to shallow right center to score Ervin for a 4-2 lead.

Quintana officially worked 4 2/3 innings and was charged with four runs and six hits while striking out five.

Stephenson worked five innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits. He walked two and struck out none.

NOTES: The Reds entered the series with six players with at least 20 home runs, the first time in club history, including: Joey Votto (36), Adam Duvall (31), Scott Schebler (30), Scooter Gennett (27), Eugenio Suarez (26) and Zack Cozart (24). ... Votto started his 160th game of the season on Friday, one of two big league players to start every 2017 game, joining Kansas City SS Alcides Escobar. ... The Reds send RHP Jackson Stephens (2-0, 3.86 ERA) in Saturday's middle game against Cubs LHP Jon Lester (12-8, 4.46 ERA), who is expected to pitch limited innings. ... Cubs manager Joe Maddon said other position players would also have shortened appearances or have time off this weekend. ... The Cubs staged a modest on-field celebration of their NL Central Division title prior to Friday's game with video highlights of the season followed by players coming out of the dugout to tip their hats to fans.