CHICAGO (AP) — Tyler Mahle worked five sharp innings, Eugenio Suárez homered and the Cincinnati Reds cooled off the Chicago Cubs with a 5-1 victory Sunday.
Tyler Naquin drove in two runs for Cincinnati, and Nick Castellanos had two hits. Jonathan India also had two hits and drove in a run.
Castellanos extended his hitting streak to 16 games, the longest active streak in the majors.
The banged-up Cubs had won six in a row. They were once again without first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who missed his fifth straight game due to back tightness.
Mahle (4-2) retired his first 12 batters. The right-hander allowed one hit, struck out eight and walked one.
The Cubs put their first two batter on in the fifth, but Mahle struck out Rafael Ortega, Patrick Wisdom and Eric Sogard to get out of the inning.
“He’s just so tough and he’s so strong,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Tyler finds an extra gear, reserve in the tank and he’s able to get big outs.
“We’ll take that every time. Tyler continues to get better.”
Tejay Antone got four outs for his third save.
Kris Bryant hit an RBI single in the eighth for Chicago’s only run. Jake Arrieta (5-5) permitted five runs — two earned — and six hits in 3 2/3 innings.
“I physically felt good,” Arrieta said. “It was just one of those games when I couldn’t command the ball like I wanted to.
“It would have been nice to get the sweep. I just wasn’t able to come out more crisp.”
Cincinnati jumped in front with three in the first.
After Naquin’s bases-loaded sacrifice fly, Kyle Farmer hit a bouncer to Bryant at first. Bryant bobbled the ball before throwing to second for the forceout.
But the call was reversed after a Cincinnati challenge, and Tyler Stephenson was ruled safe to load the bases. Bryant…
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