Chicago Cubs vs Cincinnati Reds

The Chicago Cubs (77-59) snapped a three-game losing streak in emphatic fashion on Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field, demolishing the Cincinnati Reds (64-72) 17-5 behind a career day from centre fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and a relentless offence that racked up 19 hits.

After dropping a 10-8 heartbreaker to the Reds on Friday — Cincinnati's fourth consecutive win — the Cubs answered with their highest run total of the season. Every Cubs starter reached base, and the bottom half of the order (slots 5-9) combined for 14 runs scored and 11 RBIs.

The Cubs jumped on Reds left-hander Andrew Abbott from the first pitch of the bottom of the first. Pete Crow-Armstrong launched a solo home run to centre field — his first of three on the day — and Alex Bregman followed with a two-run shot later in the frame, scoring Seiya Suzuki for a 3-0 lead.

Cincinnati answered immediately. Eugenio Suárez crushed a two-run homer in the top of the second, plating Tyler Stephenson, to cut the deficit to 3-2. But the Cubs responded with three more in the bottom half: Carson Kelly drove in Tyrone Taylor on a sacrifice fly that turned into a run when Elly De La Cruz's throw sailed wide, and Crow-Armstrong crushed his second home run of the game — a two-run shot scoring Pedro Ramirez — making it 6-2.

The Reds kept chipping away. Sal Stewart homered to centre in the third, scoring De La Cruz, to make it 6-4. Bregman singled home Crow-Armstrong in the fourth to push it to 7-4, and JJ Bleday cut it to 7-5 with a sacrifice fly in the fifth that scored De La Cruz.

That was as close as Cincinnati would get.

With the Cubs clinging to a two-run lead in the bottom of the fifth, Carson Kelly delivered the knockout blow. The veteran catcher crushed a three-run homer to left field, scoring Ramirez and Taylor, to stretch the lead to 10-5. The Cubs never looked back.

The seventh inning turned into a rout. Crow-Armstrong completed his three-homer day — his third of the game, a three-run blast to centre — and Nico Hoerner singled home Suzuki, making it 14-5. Kelly doubled home Taylor in the eighth, and Suzuki capped the scoring with a two-run homer.

Pete Crow-Armstrong (CHC) — Player of the Match. 4-for-6, 4 runs, 6 RBIs, 3 home runs (season No. 34, 35 and 36). The 24-year-old centre fielder posted a 1.000 slugging percentage on the day and now has an .OPS of .944 on the season. His 36 home runs rank among the National League leaders.

Carson Kelly (CHC) — 2-for-4, 3 runs, 4 RBIs, home run (9th), double, walk. The catcher's three-run homer in the fifth inning was the decisive blow that turned a tight game into a blowout.

Seiya Suzuki (CHC) — 3-for-5, 3 runs, 2 RBIs, home run (23rd), walk. Suzuki reached base four times and scored three runs from the DH spot.

Alex Bregman (CHC) — 3-for-5, 1 run, 3 RBIs, home run (20th), double. The veteran third baseman drove in three and set the tone with the first-inning two-run shot.

Kevin Gausman (CHC) — Winning pitcher (8-11). 5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 102 pitches. Gausman battled through five innings, striking out seven while allowing home runs to Suárez and Stewart, but the Cubs' offence gave him ample run support.

Andrew Abbott (CIN) — Losing pitcher (6-10). 3.0 IP, 8 H, 7 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 68 pitches. Abbott was pulled after failing to escape the second inning, having surrendered three home runs across two frames.

• 19 hits, 17 runs: The Cubs' 19-hit barrage included five home runs and three doubles. Only Michael Busch (0-for-6) failed to record a hit among the nine Cubs starters.
• 6 home runs were hit in the game (4 by the Cubs, 2 by the Reds), with Wrigley Field's friendly jet stream playing a factor on a warm August afternoon.
• Crow-Armstrong's 3 HR made him the first Cubs player with a three-homer game since Christopher Morel in June 2024. His 6 RBIs matched a career high.
• Reds pitching struggles: Abbott (3 IP, 7 ER) plus four relievers combined to allow 17 runs, the most Cincinnati's staff has surrendered in a single game this season. Six different Reds pitchers took the mound.
• Cubs bullpen dominance: After Gausman exited, Ryan Zeferjahn (1.1 IP, 0 H), Ryan Rolison (0.2 IP, 1 H) and Colin Rea (2.0 IP, 0 H) combined for 4.0 scoreless innings, striking out four.

The Cubs (77-59) snapped their three-game skid and maintained their hold on a National League Wild Card position. The win was a vital response after Friday's late-inning collapse. Chicago improved to 17-5 at home against National League Central opponents this season.

The Reds (64-72) saw their four-game winning streak come to an abrupt halt. Cincinnati's pitching staff, which entered the day with a 4.12 ERA (14th in MLB), was shelled for a season-high 17 runs, with left-hander Abbott taking the brunt of the damage.

Next up: The same two teams meet again on Sunday, August 30 at 6:20 PM CT at Wrigley Field (broadcast on NBC/Peacock). The Cubs will look to take the series before heading on a six-game road trip to Pittsburgh and Los Angeles.