National League Game Summary - Chicago at Cincinnati
Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Addison Russell's three-run double led the Chicago Cubs in a 5-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a rain-shortened set.
Miguel Montero added a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored for the Cubs, who took both games of the set that saw Saturday's contest postponed due to rain. Jake Arrieta (3-1) pitched six innings and allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
Todd Frazier hit a solo home run and Billy Hamilton drove in the other run for the Reds, who have lost three straight. Anthony DeSclafani (2-1) allowed five runs -- one earned -- on five hits with a pair of walks and five strikeouts over five innings.
"It's not where we want to be offensively," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We're creating opportunities, but we haven't been able to cash in on them with any consistency. We've got to get better."
The Cubs jumped on top in the second as Montero hit a one-out solo homer to left, his third of the season.
Chicago added to its lead with a big fourth inning. Anthony Rizzo drew a walk to start the frame, stole second, moved to third when Kris Bryant's grounder was misplayed by Frazier, and scored on Montero's single to left.
After Starlin Castro grounded out, Chris Coghlan was intentionally walked to load the bags. Arrieta then struck out, but Russell knocked a bases-clearing double to the gap in right-center for a 5-0 lead.
"I saw the ball a little bit better today. Fouled off some good pitches to keep me in the count," said Russell. "He gave me a fastball outside. I tried not to do too much."
Arrieta was flawless his first time through the Cincinnati order and got the first two outs of the fourth before Frazier ripped a pitch into the left field seats to make it a 5-1 game. Arrieta then gave up two singles, but struck out Marlon Byrd to end the inning.
Cincinnati chipped away a bit more at its deficit in the fifth as Hamilton's fielder's choice scored Zack Cozart and left men at the corners with one out. Hamilton then stole second before Joey Votto walked, but Arrieta got Frazier to foul out, and Brandon Phillips to ground into a fielder's choice to get out of the jam.
Arrieta pitched a 1-2-3 sixth inning and Zac Rosscup took the mound in the seventh. He retired the first two batters before Hamilton ripped a triple to center, but Rosscup struck Votto out swinging to end the frame.
Pedro Strop worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning, and Hector Rondon tossed a scoreless ninth for his fourth save of the season.