Cubs Exploded for 7 Runs in One Inning and the Reds Never Recovered

The Chicago Cubs just completed a four-game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds with an 8-3 demolition at Wrigley Field on Thursday, and it was the seven-run fourth inning that turned this one from close to completely out of hand. This win marked the Cubs' ninth straight victory and their 15th straight win at home. Meanwhile, the Reds are now riding a seven-game losing streak after starting their road trip in first place in the National League Central.

Imanaga Was Locked In While Cincinnati Couldn't Find Any Answers

Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga was the real story here, striking out 10 batters across six innings. He allowed six hits and walked three, but when the Reds loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, Imanaga came through in the clutch, striking out Ke'Bryan Hayes and Dane Myers swinging to end the threat and keep Cincinnati off the board.

On the flip side, Reds starter Rhett Lowder couldn't get out of the fourth. He lasted three-plus innings, allowing three runs on just one hit but walking four batters. The right-hander had to leave the game after back-to-back walks to Alex Bregman and Ian Happ to start the inning, and Cincinnati announced he departed with right shoulder discomfort. That's when the Cubs' lineup turned vicious.

That Fourth Inning Told You Everything

Michael Conforto was the engine in that devastating fourth, finishing the day 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI. He'd already given the Cubs an early lead with a solo home run off Lowder in the second. Reliever Connor Phillips took over but immediately walked Conforto with the bases loaded to double Chicago's lead. Then it got worse for Cincinnati. Pete Crow-Armstrong singled in a run, Miguel Amaya ripped a two-run single, and Nico Horner doubled in another to make it 8-0. Just like that, the Reds were done.

Cincinnati did scrape together some offense. Sal Stewart, who'd been struggling badly at 0.071 average over his last 28 at-bats, smoked his 10th homer off Imanaga in the sixth. Blake Dunn added a solo shot in the eighth. But here's the brutal part: the Reds actually outhit the Cubs 9-7, with Hayes and Dunn both going 2-for-4. They left a season-high 15 runners stranded. That's baseball sometimes. You put runners on base and leave them there, and you lose 8-3 at home.

The Reds now cap their catastrophic road trip having started in first place in the National League Central and finishing in no better than a tie for last.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.