The first place Cincinnati Reds and Dusty Baker came to town as the Cubs tried to capitalize on their sweep avoiding win over Milwaukee on Wednesday.Cincinnati won it 3-0. Following a scoreless first inning, Bronson Arroyo got a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the second when Jay Bruce walked and Ryan Hanigan launched his third homer into the left field bleachers off Tom Gorzelanny who then settled down. The Cubs had two scoring chances at Arroyo, with two on and two gone in the 4th(Kosuke Fukudome bounced to short)and the 5th when Blake DeWitt and Geovany Soto led off with singles and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch.But Gorzelanny whiffed,Tyler Colvin his a soft pop to SS Paul Janish and Starlin Castro fanned.Gorzelanny held the Reds in check until the top of the 7th when Janish singled with one out, but sacrificed to third by Arroyo,and scored on a two out single by Brandon Phillips.Gorzelanny departed after the 7th as Andrew Cashner started the top of the 8th.All Star Arthur Rhodes started the bottom of the 8th for Cincinnati. Coco Cordero walked a pair of Cubs in the bottom of the ninth,but still earned his 30th save of the season.
NOTES—Attendance was 40,696…..Former Blackhawk(Canadian,Red Wing and Wolves)player Chris Chelios was the guest conductor in the 7th inning. He was wearing a Bob Probert #24 Hawks sweater as a tribute to his late teammate.He said he is defiantly done playing and wants to spend more time with his kids…..Randy Wells(5-9)faces Edinson Volquez(2-1)at 12:05 Saturday afternoon in game two of the series.
LES