Bote’s blast lifts Cubs to victory over Reds
While David Bote is learning about the major leagues, baseball is learning about the rookie, too.
Like be really, really careful when he steps to the plate in a big spot.
Bote struck again on Friday, connecting in the 10th inning for another game-ending home run that sent the Chicago Cubs over the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 for their third straight victory.
The 25-year-old Bote, an 18thround pick in the 2012 draft, got behind 0-2 before driving Raisel Iglesias’ next pitch deep to left field with one out. He flipped his batting helmet off as he approached his smiling teammates and tried unsuccessfully to sidestep a water-cooler shower before stepping on home plate.
“I don’t know what was in that
Gatorade bath. It smelled horrible,” a laughing Bote said. “But I mean it feels great, so it’s fun.”
Bote created quite a splash earlier this month, hitting a bottom-of-theninth, two-out grand slam on a Sunday night that beat Washington 4-3 on Aug. 12. Each of his five career homers has either tied the game or put the Cubs in front.
“Just hunting spots on pitches and I was able to get a barrel on it,” he said.
Iglesias (2-2) had made seven straight scoreless appearances. Jesse Chavez (42), the sixth Cubs reliever, pitched a scoreless inning for the win.
“That was an extremely well-played game, wellpitched game,” Reds manager Jim Riggleman said.
Daniel Murphy homered in the eighth for NL Central-leading Chicago, and Javier Baez had a run-scoring single in the sixth. Alec Mills pitched 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in his first major league start.
Last-place Cincinnati wasted a solid performance by Matt Harvey in its fourth loss in five games. Harvey struck out six in 5 1/3 innings after he was reportedly claimed off waivers by the contending Brewers, only remaining with the Reds when they couldn’t work out a deal.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” Harvey said. “There were some nerves, I guess, some different feelings coming through this morning . ... I’m glad I’m still staying here the rest of the season.”
Harvey is 6-5 with a 4.14 ERA in 18 starts after he was acquired in a trade with the New York Mets, salvaging his season after a rough start. But he is eligible for free agency this winter and isn’t expected to stay with the Reds.
“He’s really good. If you want something good, you have to give up something, you know?” Riggleman said. “Obviously, nobody wanted to give up enough. In their eyes, they probably felt it was enough. We certainly didn’t think it was enough.”
Bote and Albert Almora Jr. struck out swinging before Murphy drove the next pitch from Jared Hughes over the wall in right for his first homer since he was acquired in a trade with Washington on Tuesday.
The crowd of 37,760 roared as Murphy rounded the bases, and the veteran second baseman acknowledged the cheers by popping out of the dugout for a curtain call.