The Chicago Cubs had a 3-1 lead over the Cincinnati Reds heading into the bottom of the fourth inning on Friday night, but the Reds quickly erased that score. Cincinnati put up five runs in a massive fourth inning to go up 6-3, and it would be a lead that the Cubs could not recover from.
Chicago took that lead thanks to three scoring plays: a Luis Valbuena solo homer in the first, a wild pitch in the second that scored Starlin Castro and a Travis Wood single a few batters later that plated Brett Jackson. The fourth inning changed everything, though. In that inning, both Ryan Ludwick (solo) and Todd Frazier (two-run) hit home runs, which were followed by run-scoring hits from Zack Cozart (double) and Drew Stubbs (triple). A Jay Bruce homer in the fifth inning but the Reds up by the eventual final score, and spelled the end for Travis Wood.
Michael Bowden and Alberto Cabrera notched scoreless outings out of the Cubs' bullpen, while Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was summoned for the ninth inning to make sure that the door stayed shut.
The two teams will be back on the field at 12:10 p.m. CT on Saturday.
For more on Chicago sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage on the Cubs, head over to Bleed Cubbie Blue.