It was sure difficult to tell Saturday which team had been eliminated from postseason play months ago, and which one was the defending NL Central Division Champion. The Cubs (49-65) were the much better team Saturday and won their seventh in a row as they downed the Reds (54-59) 11-4.
The Reds got off to a quick start Saturday plating two in the third inning. The way Johnny Cueto has pitched this season that looked like it could be enough to give the Reds the win. The Cubs had other plans though scoring two in the third, three in the fourth, and five in the fifth to go on and beat the Reds rather easily.
Cincinnati didn’t help themselves in the field as they made three errors and misplayed a few other balls as well which helped the Cubs go on to victory.
Carlos Zambrano pitched well enough for the Cubs Saturday to earn the victory. Zambrano, who also added a solo homerun to get the Cubs offense on the board, went six innings and allowed three runs on just six hits. Big Z improved to 9-6 on the season.
Johnny Cueto helped the Cubs by having his worst outing in a very long time. Cueto went just three and two-thirds innings and allowed five runs on seven hits. The Reds righty fell to 7-5 on the season.
The Cubs will go for the sweep and their eighth win in a row when the two clubs meet Sunday afternoon.