Castro's RBI Single In 9th Lifts Cubs Past Reds
CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs had to wait out a lengthy rain delay, and then they had to overcome the Cincinnati Reds' rally.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon liked his team's resilience.
Starlin Castro's RBI single in the ninth inning lifted the Cubs to a 4-3 win over the Reds on Saturday night in a rain-delayed game.
Kris Bryant led off the ninth with a double before Miguel Montero was hit by a pitch to bring up Castro, who singled to center field off Tony Cingrani (0-3).
"We continue to play adverse circumstances with the weather. They came back," Maddon said. "We have opportunities, don't get it done, but don't cave. That's how you play in October."
Bryant keyed the Cubs rally and also impressed his manager with his legs. He dove head-first into second base on the double, and also scored on a fielder's choice grounder hit to shortstop in the fourth.
"Fabulous job on the bases," Maddon said.
Bryant said he tries to be a complete player.
"It's good a different part of my game showed today," he said.
Jason Motte (3-1) allowed two hits and struck out one in a scoreless ninth for the Cubs, who have won five of seven.
Eugenio Suarez tied the game for the Reds in the top of the sixth with a two-run home run off James Russell soon after the game was resumed from a 2-hour, 48-minute rain delay.
"We came out of that rain delay with a lot of intensity and fire," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We really played those last four innings extremely hard, extremely well and made a game of it."
The Wrigley Field videoboards showed Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final between the Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning. At one point, fans were urged to seek shelter due to lightning. A fan ran onto the field after the Blackhawks took the lead and was caught in center field. Chicago won 2-1 to take a 3-2 series lead.
"We lost some momentum there coming off the rain delay," Bryant said. "We came back, battled. It was a strange day, but happy we got a 'W.'"
Neither starting pitcher returned after the rain delay. Kyle Hendricks struck out seven in five innings. Mike Leake allowed five hits in five innings.
Montero hit a two-run home run, his ninth, on the first pitch he saw from Leake in the second. Montero has three home runs in four games.
Joey Votto's solo home run, his 14th, made it a one-run game in the fourth.
Bryant scored from third on the fielder's choice for a two-run lead in the fourth. He was initially ruled out at home on a throw from shortstop Suarez, but the call was overturned after a 3-minute, 55-second review.
"I got down the line pretty quick to get in there," Bryant said. "It was a good slide. I'm glad they overturned it. It ended up being a crucial run for us."
The Cubs had a chance to take the lead in the eighth. Addison Russell led off with a double, but was picked off when he slipped trying to get back to second after Dexter Fowler missed a bunt. The Cubs had runners at the corners after a reviewed Chris Coghlan single. Anthony Rizzo grounded into a double play to end the inning.
"We had opportunities, did not get it done and eventually had to do it like we did," Maddon said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips (groin) remained out of the starting lineup for the third straight game. He pinch hit Friday and Saturday.
UP NEXT
Reds RHP Anthony DeSclafani (5-4, 3.53 ERA) will start against Cubs LHP Jon Lester (4-5, 4.25) in the series finale.
DURING THE BREAK
The Cubs also kept track of the Blackhawks during the delay. Bryant was impressed with the fan reaction.
"It's pretty cool to see that firsthand," he said. "I hope they would be doing that for us too."
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