Miguel Cairo’s grand slam helps Cincinnati Reds defeat Chicago Cubs 8-2 – MLB Update
Miguel Cairo hit a grand slam to help Cincinnati Reds defeat Chicago Cubs 8-2 at Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati on Tuesday, June 7.
The only run that Edinson Volquez allowed came in the second inning when Blake DeWitt doubled to deep-right to get an early lead for the Cubs. Volquez not only kept the Cubs’ hitters at bay, but also paved the way for the batters to pile up the lead.
Volquez’s feat deserved commendation largely because he maintained a disconcertingly embarrassing record of 6.35 earned average. Last night’s game cheered the Reds’ manager Dusty Baker who said, "That was a long-term deal to help him get his stuff together,"
Baker said. "He went down there and worked."
Cairo, on the other hand, put in a brilliant performance against the rivals representing the Cubs’ offence. Cairo hit the second grand slam of his career to not only keep the Cubs in constant pressure but provided a great support to the Reds’ defence embodied
by Volquez.
Miguel’s hit came in the seventh inning when Lopez was relieved by the Cubs. Having scored a perfectly safe lead of 4-1 by then, Cairo smashed a homer to left, hitting the inspiring grand slam.
"I knew I hit it good," Cairo said. "When I saw that on the replay, I said, 'Wow, I didn't know I could hit that way.'”
Cairo’s grand slam dealt a severe blow to the already waning hopes of the Cubs given the excellence personified pitching of Volquez. The hitting coterie of Chicago was in virtual disorder in the face of a collectively brilliant performance of the hitting
and defending combination of the Reds.
Volquez pitched right into the seventh inning, allowing only two walks and a run against the otherwise better-performing Cubs. "I think I did a good job, going seven innings with only two walks," said Volquez,” I'm trying to be more compact."
Once Nick Masset replaced Volquez, the lead was 8-1. Masset pitched a solid eighth inning followed by Jeremy Horst who was relentless. He only allowed two hits and a run in the ninth inning, resulting in Luis Montanez’s single.
Montanez’ single was too late and too little to reverse the 8-2 win of the Reds. This was the second consecutive win for Cincinnati in as many games. The series third game shall be on Wednesday where the Cubs shall attempt to avoid a sweep in the three-game
series.
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