 hadn't lost to the Reds since 2016, a streak of seven straight starts. The Cubs have dropped 3 of 4 and finished June 14-15, their first losing month since May 2017.Yasiel Puig stole two bases a day after a shouting match with Chicago reliever Pedro Strop - Puig was upset after being hit by a 3-0 pitch. He scored after both stolen bases thanks to Ervin's singles, including one during a four-run eighth. Senzel added a two-run single during the big frame.Suarez, hitting .155 over his previous 22 games, blasted Lester's 3-2 pitch a projected 457 feet into a party structure atop the batter's eye in the first inning. The three-run shot gave him 17 homers this season.DeSclafani (5-4) ended his day by striking out David Bote with two runners on and celebrated with a fist pump. He struck out seven and allowed five hits and a walk.Schwarber capped a three-run seventh with his 18th homer. Chicago got the potential go-ahead runs to second and third in the eighth before Iglesias coaxed Albert Almora Jr. into an inning-ending foul popup. Heyward's shot in the ninth cut the deficit to two, but Iglesias was able to finish his 14th save.Lester allowed four runs - three earned - on five hits and two walks. He tied his season high with eight strikeouts.TRAINER'S ROOMCubs: SS Javier Baez was given the day off until pinch-hitting in the eighth. He has played in 82 of Chicago's 84 games. ... The Cubs are expected to activate RHP Kyle Hendricks from the 10-day injured list in time to start at Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Hendricks hasn't pitched since June 14 because of right shoulder inflammation.UP NEXTCubs: RHP Adbert Alzolay (1-0) makes his third career appearance, second start and first against the Pirates in the opener of a four-game series at Pittsburgh on Monday.Reds: RHP Tyler Mahle (2-8) makes his third career start and first of the season against Milwaukee on Monday.---More MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/-Sports)
Cubs seek elusive series win vs. RedsFLMThe Chicago Cubs hope the third time is the charm on Sunday afternoon when they play the rubber match of their three-game series against the host Cincinnati Reds.The Cubs dropped a 4-2 decision in the series finale at Great American Ball Park on May 16 as well as a 10-2 setback at Wrigley Field on May 26.Chicago evened its current series in Cincinnati on Saturday after Jason Heyward homered for the second time in as many days and Javier Baez belted his fifth career grand slam in a 6-0 victory.The National League Central-leading Cubs own a 14-14 mark this month entering the final day of June. The team must win on Sunday in order to avert its first losing month since May 2017."A lot of moving parts," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "Of course you'd like to be in better position, but I can't really lament what's gone on at this point. Overall, we've hung in there pretty well." While Heyward and Baez provided the fireworks with their bats on Saturday, Reds slugger Yasiel Puig set off some more with his response to being hit by a pitch from Pedro Strop in the eighth inning. Puig slammed his batting helmet to the ground and gestured toward the reliever as he walked toward the mound, prompting the benches and bullpens to clear before order was restored."At the end of the day, nothing happened," the 28-year-old Puig said. "Nobody got hurt. What's important (on Sunday) is to go out and win the game and win the series. That's more important than fighting with the other team." Strop was far from impressed with Puig's antics on the field, and the reliever's following response could raise tensions in the series finale."I don't know what to say about it," Strop said. "It's not a secret he's stupid. I have nothing against him, but he's stupid." Joey Votto continued to haunt the Cubs, following up his 24th career four-hit performance against them in the opener with two more hits on Saturday.The 35-year-old Votto is 10-for-18 with two homers, five RBIs and four runs scored in his last five games overall and 17-for-34 with nine runs scored in the season series versus Chicago.Puig and Votto will aim to send Cincinnati to just its second victory in seven outings on Sunday when they face Chicago left-hander Jon Lester (7-5, 3.83 ERA), who has four wins in his last five starts.Lester allowed two runs (zero earned) on five hits and struck out seven over six innings in an 8-3 victory over Atlanta on Monday.The 35-year-old sports a 7-1 record and 3.88 ERA in 16 starts against the Reds, including a 3-1 mark with a 3.38 ERA in Cincinnati. Lester has flustered Scooter Gennett (2-for-13, five strikeouts), although he has struggled against Jose Peraza (12-for-29).Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani (4-4, 4.70 ERA) will take the mound on Sunday after seeing his three-start unbeaten streak come to a halt in his last outing.DeSclafani, who surrendered one run in each of his previous three starts, allowed six runs on eight hits in 4 1/3 innings of a 7-5 setback at Milwaukee last Sunday.The 29-year-old, who owns a 3-3 record with a 4.24 ERA in 10 career starts versus Chicago, received a no-decision against the Cubs on May 24 despite yielding three homers in 3 2/3 innings. Kris Bryant, who belted one of them, is 6-for-17 versus the hurler.--Field Level Media
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