Michael Busch’s slow start has become a distant memory for the Chicago Cubs, who carry a seven-game winning streak into their game Wednesday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds.
Busch tied Tuesday’s 3-2 win over the Reds with a solo homer in the eighth before driving in the winning run with a 10th-inning single.
Chicago has opened the four-game series with back-to-back walk-off victories and has won 13 straight games at Wrigley Field, the team’s longest home winning streak since it won 14 in a row in 2008.
“We’re playing well in all facets of the game,” Busch said. “We’re winning in a lot of ways. We’re pitching really well, playing defense, having good at-bats. It’s been a lot of fun. …The fans make it the best place in the world to play, and I’m just thankful to be a Cub.”
Busch is batting .315 (17-for-54) with three home runs and 16 RBIs in his last 14 games for the Cubs, who have not lost at Wrigley Field since April 11.
Chicago reliever Ryan Rolison earned the win with a scoreless 10th inning on Tuesday and has settled in nicely in his first season with his new team.
“It’s unbelievable coming to work everyday with these guys,” Rolison said. “I just feel like the team is so close, and we’re just out there having fun. It feels like I’m living a dream.”
Cincinnati could use its own splash of joy after losing its fifth straight game on Tuesday. The Reds have dropped seven of their past nine, but manager Terry Francona said he isn’t worried about his team losing confidence.
“You know what, that’s the one thing I’m not worried about,” Francona said. “They always stay together. They’re OK. We can’t just love them when we’re winning. We love this group. We’ll figure it out.”
Wednesday’s pitching matchup features a pair of right-handers as Cincinnati’s Brady Singer (2-2, 5.57 ERA) faces Chicago’s Colin Rea (4-1, 4.41).
Singer, 29, allowed four runs on seven hits over 3 1/3 innings in a 9-1 road loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates last Friday. Most of the damage against Singer came with two outs, including a solo homer by Bryan Reynolds in the first inning.
Ian Happ has one hit in six at-bats against Singer, who is 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA in three career starts versus the Cubs.
Chicago will counter with Rea, who gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings in a 6-5 home win over the Arizona Diamondbacks last Friday.
Rea, 35, bounced back after allowing six runs over 3 1/3 innings in a 12-4 road loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 25.
Elly De La Cruz is 7-for-19 (.368) with two homers and seven RBIs against Rea, who is 5-3 with a 5.67 ERA in 11 career games (10 starts) versus Cincinnati.
One bright spot for the Reds during their losing skid has been the play of left fielder JJ Bleday, who has homered in back-to-back games. Bleday made his Reds debut on April 26 after being recalled from Triple-A Louisville.
Formerly of the Athletics, Bleday signed with the Reds as a free agent in the offseason.
“He’s really been swinging it good,” Francona said. “It’s nice when a kid comes up (after) swinging really well in Triple-A and goes with it here. It’s given us a big lift.”
-Field Level Media
