Rizzo legs out inside-the-park HR, Cubs sweep Reds 9-2

By the time Duvall could get to the ball, Rizzo ran around the bases for an inside-the-park home run and a 3-0 Cubs lead.

The game started with a leadoff home run by Ben Zobrist.

“If we could start working him in, and he gets comfortable that could be a big boost to us”, said Maddon, whose bullpen has slumped into a significant weakness in recent weeks – putting the front office on high alert to land bullpen help before the August 1 trade deadline.

“My thing is just to get the guys’ trust”, said Edwards, whose only run allowed in four outings since his callup was on a home run by the first batter he faced (Cardinals’ Aledmys Diaz). Maddon then rotated them on the mound, with Patton starting the 14th inning, Wood switching places with him from left field, and then Patton finishing off the inning.

“We both called for it at the same time”, Duvall told reporters after the game. I thought we were going to collide. Along with coming away with a sweep of the Reds, the Cubs accumulated a slew of franchise superlatives and firsts. I didn’t take my eye off the ball, but I might’ve flinched a little bit.

Cubs: RHP John Lackey (7-4, 3.29 ERA) opens a four-game series at NY against the Mets.

Roster move: The Reds demoted relief pitcher J.J. Hoover to Triple-A Louisville before the game and recalled reliever Keyvius Sampson. He gave up the sixth grand slam of his career to become the Reds’ all-time leader in grand slams allowed.

Research into Baez’s 15th-inning slam found that it was the latest by inning in Cubs history.

Nationals 4, Mets 2 • Daniel Murphy homered twice, tormenting his former team again, and host Washington completed a three-game sweep of NY.

Orioles 12, Padres 6 – At San Diego: Mark Trumbo hit his major league-leading 23rd homer and drove in four runs for AL East-leading Baltimore, which beat San Diego for its seventh straight win.

This series was particularly insane beginning with Kris Bryant’s historic three-homer, two-double game on Monday, followed by a 15-inning affair the next night in which the Cubs used three pitchers in left field. They play 11 consecutive road games prior to the All-Star break.