Homecoming includes homer for Schwarber
Former Middletown star’s three-run drive helps Cubs rout Reds.
All-or-nothing Adam CINCINNATI — Dunn, who hit home runs with as much regularity as he struck out in his nearly eight full seasons as the Cincinnati Reds’ left fielder, recently was announced as one of six candidates for the team’s Hall of Fame.
Middletown’s Kyle Schwarber isn’t Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame material yet, but he is having a Dunn-like season for the National League Central Division leaders.
Schwarber, who also plays left field, went into Wednesday’s game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park batting .202, but he’d hit 20 home runs. He made it 21 with a three-run opposite-field homer in the fourth inning that
survived an umpiring crew chief challenge and broke open a game the Cubs won 9-3.
“That first half is a complete wash for me,” said Schwarber, who went into the game hitting .278 in August and .264 since being recalled from Triple-A Iowa on July 6. “I’ve felt a lot better at the plate recently, hitting the ball hard the last couple of days.”
At least the Reds didn’t need 4 hours and 4 minutes to lose this one, as they did the previous night in a game that set a record for the longest nine-inning game in franchise history, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Schwarber’s homer off Cincinnati rookie right-hander Asher Wojciechowski followed back-to-back leadoff singles by Chicago lefthanded pitcher Mike Montgomery and center fielder Jon Jay. The ball bounced back on to the field, and the umpires checked to make sure it first went into the stands.
Third baseman Tommy La Stella hit a two-run homer to cap the Cubs’ five-run fourth. La Stella was the first batter faced by rookie righthander Alejandro Chacin, who was making his major league debut.
Right-hander Luke Farrell, recalled with Chacin on Wednesday, allowed one hit and two walks with three strikeouts in three innings.
Joey Votto hit his 33rd home run with one out in the ninth, allowing the Reds to avoid their third shutout loss at home and fourth overall.
Eugenio Suarez drove his 24th homer into the left field seats — his 20th at home — to extend his hitting streak to eight games with two outs in the ninth and Scott Schebler followed with his 24th to deep right-center, but Adam Duvall went 0 for 4 to see his hitting streak snapped at seven games.
Wojciechowski (3-3) walked in a run in the first inning. The Cubs added an RBI single by Jason Heyward, and Anthony Rizzo scored when Duvall overran the ball in left for an error. The Cubs reached Wojciechowski for eight hits and seven earned runs with three walks and six strikeouts in 3⅔ innings.
“It comes down to I didn’t make the pitches,” Wojciechowski said.