Cubs Chris Denorfia hits walk-off homer

Neither team could generate much offense in the eighth or ninth innings; each had one baserunner in the 10th after two were out, but both innings ended with that runner stuck on first base.

Royals starter Yordano Ventura did not allow a base runner through the first five innings, although Kris Bryant hit a drive to straight away center field in the first inning that Lorenzo Cain caught while reaching up against the ivy. Joey Votto leads Cincy with 167 hits and 78 RBI while Brandon Phillips and Todd Frazier have combined for 156 RBI. After a bit of a shaky first inning that included a pair of walks, Hendricks allowed just two more hits, a second-inning single by Alcides Escobar and a fourth-inning double by Mike Moustakas.

This was one of Hendricks’s best starts of the season.

“It’s huge when you’re searching for it and you finally see the results”, he said. Milone (9-5), removed from the rotation two weeks ago, stepped in and allowed two runs in 5 2/3 innings. He moved to right field in the ninth and back to his normal position of third base in the 11th.

While the Chicago Cubs have enjoyed a return to prominence in 2015, the Cincinnati Reds are on the verge of their longest losing streak in 17 years. The homer followed a leadoff single by Dixon Machado and a double by Anthony Gose.

In addition to Hendricks, Trevor Cahill made his case for the postseason roster by throwing two efficient innings. Ryan Flaherty hit a three-run home run for the Orioles, who have lost four consecutive. The Cubs are 21-8in their last 29 home games and are 37-18 in their last 55 overall while going 37-18 in their last 55 games on grass. The Cubs are locked into the wild-card game and still have an outside chance to host it, trailing Pittsburgh by 3 1-2 games with six remaining. New York dropped five games behind Toronto in the AL East with six to play.

“It’s a much more delightful way to go”, said John McCarthy who headed north with his friend, Bob Willer. The struggling Reds have lost nine straight and managed only three hits in a 5-1 loss at Washington on Monday. The Royals are a very good team that’s fifth in the American League in runs and had been shut out only 10 times this season, just once since July.