Jonny Gomes shines as Cincinnati Reds defeat Chicago Cubs 8-2 – MLB Update
Jonny Gomes put in a good performance as he drove in four runs, including a three run homer as Cincinnati Reds defeat Chicago Cubs 8-2 at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati on Monday, June 6.
Gomes’ feat also added to the woes of Chicago who lost the seventh straight game here. "I told Jonny, 'We need you,’" the Reds’ manager Baker said. "He was one of our best RBI men last year. If you're going to win a lot of games, you need a bunch of guys
like that in your lineup."
Monday’s game had a slightly different start with the Cubs getting an early 1-0 lead in the very first inning when Mike Leake was dispatched as the starting pitcher for the Reds. Leake gave up two hits, one of which was smashed by Carlos Pena that allowed
Darwin Barney to score.
Gomes’ first run came in the second inning when Matt Garza came out to pitch. Leake was effective in disallowing the Cubs’ offence to score easily.
Drew Stubbs hit the tiebreaking score in the third inning. Entering into the fourth inning, Leake, singled to right to take the lead 3-1, as Stubbs earned the second run and the team’s fourth run in the fourth inning.
Starlin Castro hit a sacrifice fly to right to add to the Cubs’ runs, bringing the lead down to 4-2. However, Chicago did not have things going right for them when Garza was relieved and Jeff Samardzija brought in for pitching.
Gomes, who had only two homers since April 17, hit a massive three-run homer for the team in the fifth inning. His homer not only added to the 7-2 lead of the team, but also improves his own career record.
“You've got to crawl before you can walk," said Gomes, now batting .195. "After this game, I know I'm not hitting .310, but I had four good at-bats. I hit the ball hard in three of them and got hit by the pitch in the other one. I'll work off that."
The lead was sufficient enough to be defended given the pace that Leake maintained all this while. Pitching into the eighth inning, Leake remained unbeatable while Paul Janish scored a single in the seventh inning to take the lead to 8-2.
Reliever Bill Bray pitched effectively in the ninth inning to seal the 8-2 victory for Cincinnati, deepening the frustration of the struggling Chicago Cubs.
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