Cubs delayed because it’s raining in Cincinnati … again

But during an 10-day break between starts, Haren made a few minor adjustments that enabled him to pitch one of his best games Tuesday night and keep open the possibility of starting a playoff game should the Cubs advance past the National League wild card game. Anthony Rizzo leads Chicago with 156 hits and 95 RBI while Kris Bryant and Dexter Fowler have combined for 144 RBI. “I’m confident I can get the job done”. That contest appears likely to be played in Pittsburgh but hosting isn’t out of the picture just yet as the Cubs trail the Pirates by three games with five remaining. The Cubs won 4-1. “You need that kind of presence, particularly in your pitching staff, to get to this kind of moment”, Maddon said. “Kept us in the ballgame and had pretty good stuff”.

They have got a bad combination going: An all-rookie rotation and a struggling offence.

The Reds have scored two runs or less seven times during their slump. The Reds have lost 11 straight when scoring three or less runs.

The first pitch of Tuesday’s game was delayed two hours and 31 minutes by rain.

Cubs reliever Travis Wood entered and induced a game-ending double-play grounder from the only batter he faced, second baseman Skip Schumaker, to earn this third save. Cincinnati’s 18 rain delays this season at Great American Ball Park (totaling 26 hours and 57 minutes) represent the highest total at home since the Reds started tracking weather delays in 1978…. After the Cubs scored four times in the top of the first, Haren was able to pitch more aggressively.

That one has stuck in their memory. “It’s raining in Cincinnati?” Chicago sent eight batters to the plate in the first inning for four runs on the wet field.

Joey Votto walked in the ninth inning, extending his streak to reaching base safely in 46 consecutive games. Montero’s double highlighted the 17-minute rally, which included two errors by the Reds. He joined Don Baylor (1986) as the only major league players to be hit by pitches 30 times and hit 30 homers in a season. Schwarber grew up nearby and attended games at Great American Ball Park while growing up.

Meanwhile, Haren gave up a two-out single to Eugenio Suarez in the second, an infield hit to Jason Bourgeois in the sixth and an opposite-field double by Tucker Barnhart in the eighth.

Reds: CF Billy Hamilton had surgery Tuesday on his right shoulder, injured while trying to make a diving catch. He is expected to resume baseball activity in four to six weeks….

The Reds were short-handed after third baseman Todd Frazier left the game in the fourth inning with a slight strain of his right Achilles tendon.

Reds: Anthony DeSclafani (9-12) has lost his last two starts, giving up 12 runs in 11 innings. He gave up the four first-inning runs, six hits, walked five, hit a batter and struck out seven. He has no record and a 4.74 ERA in three career matchups, all this season, but the Cubs have won each game.