Homer, sacrifice lift Cubs to win
CINCINNATI — Anthony Rizzo hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning off Michael Lorenzen, then Kris Bryant's sacrifice fly in the top of the 11th scored the winning run as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 on Friday night.
Zack Cozart and starter Tim Adleman had RBI doubles in a three-run fourth to stake the Reds to a 3-1 lead. Adam Duvall homered in the fifth for Cincinnati.
The Reds led 5-2 entering the top of the ninth, when Miguel Montero singled and Kyle Schwarber doubled to set up Rizzo's blast. In the 11th, Albert Almora Jr. walked against Robert Stephenson, then advanced to third on Schwarber's single before scoring on Bryant's sacrifice fly to left.
Cubs closer Wade Davis set Reds down in order in the bottom of the 11th.
Adleman had two hits and pitched well for the Reds, allowing two runs on four hits over six innings, but didn't get a decision. He struck out seven.
Jon Lester allowed five runs on nine hits over 5 innings for the Cubs.
Cingrani heads to DL
Cincinnati Reds lefthander Tony Cingrani saw reporters walking his way and anticipated their questions. He answered preemptively.
“I have an oblique injury,” he said with a shrug, before heading into the team dining room off of the clubhouse.
Of course, that much has been known since manager Bryan Price announced the injury Thursday night. On Friday afternoon, the Reds officially placed Cingrani on the disabled list and called up former first-round pick Phil Ervin.
Oblique injuries have meant long DL stays in the past — one kept Anthony DeSclafani out for months to start last season and another ended Billy Hamilton’s 2016 season with a month to go — but the Reds have some optimism about Cingrani.
Price didn’t want to take too much for granted, saying the Reds would need to see some improvement in the next week and that Cingrani would likely require at least one rehab outing in the minors.