Chicago Cubs drop Javier Assad’s 8 shutout innings in 2-1 loss to Cincinnati Reds – The Denver Post

Javier Assad, often stoic, shouted as he left the mound on Saturday night at Great American Ball Park.

He painted a 94.3 mph sinker on the inside edge to left-handed Cincinnati Reds hitter Will Benson for the eighth-inning final. He completed eight shutout innings and a career-high 98 pitches for Assad. The Chicago Cubs’ offense, however, has yet to come out on top, resulting in a 2-1 loss to the Reds.

It was the first time the Cubs (72-64) had suffered back-to-back losses on hits since Aug. 15-16, 2019. With the Reds’ victory, they won the season series against the Cubs, a breakout precious equality. for a potential playoff spot.

Jeimer Candelario’s homer in the seventh was one of five hits for the Cubs. Assad scattered seven hits, walked one and struck out seven.

“I remained confident, I had faith in myself, in my arguments and in the guys behind me,” Assad said through an interpreter. “I was executing my throws and attacking.”

The first three Reds reached base to start the end of the ninth against Mark Leiter Jr. on a double, a walk and a batter. Elly De La Cruz’s single to right field tied the game, and Leiter allowed Nick Martini to fly in for the first out of the ninth.

Manager David Ross brought in right-hander José Cuas to take on Hunter Renfroe with the goals still loaded. Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner nearly nailed an incredible double play to end the inning and force the extras. As the infield played, Swanson made a diving save to his left and sent the ball to second, but Hoerner’s one-hopper to Candelario was just late.

The offensive performance hasn’t been good enough against a Reds team struggling with a depleted pitching staff due to a COVID-19 outbreak. Ross didn’t have many high-leverage options for Friday’s ninth doubleheader. Leiter was “out of breath” on Saturday after pitching four of the Cubs’ last five games, Ross said.

“You get eight shutouts with your starter and you really like your chances of winning the game. Obviously we couldn’t close the last two but I feel like that’s as much if not more on the offense than anything else,” Hoerner said. . “Obviously you can win with just one, but it’s really a challenge. Nothing to panic about or anything. but obviously a lot of guys here feel like they could have changed the outcome of today’s game.

Ross did not consider giving Assad the ninth and said he wondered if he should even send him away for the eighth due to the hot weather and the inconsistency with which Assad was laid. Ross also didn’t want Assad to come up against the head of the Reds team for the fourth time.

“He did his job,” Ross said. “It was a phenomenal performance. We need to score more points.

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