After being swept by the Mets in New York, all the Cubs needed to snap a four-game losing streak was a little home cooking and a game against the Reds.
Kris Bryant belted his National League-leading 24th home run, Addison Russell drove in three runs, including a pair on his ninth homer, and rookie Willson Contreras added a solo shot to power the Cubs to a 10-4 victory on Monday over the Reds at Wrigley Field.
“We had a tough stay in New York City, and [the Mets] played really well against us, and we came out today and got our offense going,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.
There was a scary moment in the fifth, when Bryant and center fielder Albert Almora Jr. collided in left-center. Both stayed in the game to finish the inning, but Bryant was lifted because of a bruise on his left leg.
Bryant, who made Major League history one week ago at Great American Ball Park when he hit three home runs and two doubles, clubbed a two-run homer in the second to give him eight homers and 20 RBIs against the Reds this season. He walked twice and scored three runs in the game, and he leads the NL in runs scored with 67.
Maddon said Bryant would’ve stayed in the game if it had been closer, and that he is expected back in the lineup on Tuesday.
“It was my fault — I take full responsibility for that,” Almora said. “I can’t hear anything, and I don’t want to see a ball drop out there. I called it at the end, but it was too late.”
Kyle Hendricks picked up the win, while Cody Reed took the loss. Reed was tagged for six runs on four hits in the first two innings, as Cincinnati lost for the 11th time in the last 13 games. The Cubs entered the game averaging 8.70 runs per game against the Reds this season, and improved to 10-1 against them.
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