Sports
Javier Baez’s 2 HRs Lift Cubs to Win over Nicholas Castellanos, Reds
Aaron Doster/Associated PressThe Chicago Cubs (4-1) picked up a second straight road win Tuesday despite a challenge from some former teammates in an 8-5 victory at the Cincinnati Reds (1-4).Righty Alec Mills went six innings in his season debut with two earned runs on two hits for the Cubs, while Cincinnati’s Tyler Mahle lasted just…
Aaron Doster/Associated Press
The Chicago Cubs (4-1) picked up a second straight road win Tuesday despite a challenge from some former teammates in an 8-5 victory at the Cincinnati Reds (1-4).
Righty Alec Mills went six innings in his season debut with two earned runs on two hits for the Cubs, while Cincinnati's Tyler Mahle lasted just four innings.
It's the fourth consecutive loss for the Reds following a 7-1 win against the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day. In a 60-game season, the slow start may signal trouble for a club seen as a dark-horse candidate to win the National League Central.
MLB @MLB
El Mago is up to his old tricks. https://t.co/dCiVaSlKy5
Notable Performers
Javier Baez, SS, Chicago Cubs: 5 AB, 3 R, 3 H, 3 RBI, 2 HR
David Bote, 3B, Chicago Cubs: 3 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 HR
Nicholas Castellanos, RF, Cincinnati Reds: 4 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 2 RBI, 1 HR
Michael Lorenzen, RHP, Cincinnati Reds: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 SO, 1 HR
Jordan Bastian @MLBastian
Per Cubs, via historian Ed Hartig, the 14 hits allowed by the Cubs' rotation is the fewest in the first five games of a season for the franchise since at least 1901.
Castellanos Takes Cubs Deep
Nicholas Castellanos made the Cubs regret letting him get away this offseason with his first home run of the year Tuesday.
Now that he's staying put in the National League Central, that could become a regular occurrence.
Cincinnati Reds @Reds
First homer as a Red for Nick Castellanos!
#TakeTheCentral https://t.co/GYQZORzdEA
Castellanos did everything he could last season with the Cubs to earn an extension in Chicago. The Cubs let him walk in free agency, anyway. The team opted to save money over the winter and spent just $3.8 million total on the open market.
That led Castellanos to rival Cincinnati, where the Reds signed him for four years and $64 million.
As MLB.com's Jordan Bastian pointed out in January, there was an argument for Castellanos as the most important hitter in Chicago's lineup over the final two months of the season:
Slash line: .321/.356/.646
Compiled: 16 homers, 21 doubles, 36 RBI
Discipline: 4.4 percent walk rate, 20.9 percent strikeout rate
Advanced: 154 wRC , 2.0 WAR (FanGraphs)
One of the issues that stopped the Cubs from bringing Castellanos back was the need for Kyle Schwarber to remain in left field. With Jason Heyward in right field and Albert Almora Jr. in center, Chicago figured it was set.
Marquee Sports Network @WatchMarquee
That's our left fielder. https://t.co/dp1SOmlPhZ
The universal designated hitter, however, changed that. The Cubs are paying the price again. It's likely they'll feel it for years to come.
Baez Breaks Out with Two Blasts
Here comes Javier Baez.
The shortstop became the latest member of the top of the Cubs' order to find his swing following a 3-for-17 start at the plate.
Chicago Cubs @Cubs
Ope, Javy got another one. https://t.co/DvLNrTtAvp
Tuesday saw the 27-year-old reach base three times in five at-bats with a double and two home runs against the Reds. It was even more important with Kris Bryant out of the lineup in favor of David Bote at third base—who launched a home run in the eighth inning to extend Chicago's lead.
Chicago Cubs @Cubs
.@DavidBote13 continues to scorch the ball! https://t.co/JmhYbeCMRs
Bryant's slow start (1-for-17) has only increased pressure on the top of the order to keep the lineup moving. Baez did just that with plenty of help behind him, too.
The Cubs' Nos. 6-9 hitters combined to go 6-for-13 with four RBI and a wild triple off the bat of Jason Kipnis.
Marquee Sports Network @WatchMarquee
.@TheJK_Kid triples, @nico_hoerner drives him in! https://t.co/aW20W6Mq4w
What's Next?
Game 3 of the four-game series will feature both clubs' aces on the mound. Chicago's Kyle Hendricks gets his second start after a complete game, three-hitter with nine strikeouts on Opening Day, while the Reds' Sonny Gray takes the hill after also striking out nine in his first appearance of the year.
First pitch is slated for 6:40 p.m. ET at Great American Ball Park.
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