CHICAGO (AP) — Trevor Bauer tossed three-hit ball into the eighth inning to outpitch Chicago Cubs ace Yu Darvish and lift the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-0 victory Wednesday night.
Mike Moustakas hit a three-run homer in the first inning as Darvish’s seven-start winning streak was snapped.
Bauer (4-3) struck out 10 and walked none in 7 2/3 innings while tying his season high with 112 pitches. The right-hander had dropped his three previous starts, including a 3-0 loss to the Cubs and Darvish on Aug. 29 in Cincinnati.
Bauer had allowed just one hit — a leadoff single in the fifth by by Victor Caratini — through seven innings. In the eighth, Bauer gave up a one-out single to Jason Heyward and then was pulled after Ildemaro Vargas singled with two outs to put runners on the corners.
Right-hander Lucas Sims came on to get Ian Happ to line out to second to end the threat.
Raisel Iglesias got three outs for his sixth save.
Darvish (7-2) allowed three runs and two hits in six innings, walking three and striking out nine. All three runs and both hits came in the first inning. After that, the right-hander retired 16 of the final 17 batters he faced. The only blemish was a two-out walk to Brian Goodwin in the fourth inning.
Darvish had allowed only five runs in 46 innings (an 0.98 ERA) during the winning streak. He entered leading the NL with a 1.44 ERA.
Darvish had walked a total of eight batters during the previous seven starts — compared with 58 strikeouts — but issued back-to-back one-out walks in the first. One out later, Moustakas took advantage of a hanging breaking ball for a three-run drive.
HEYWARD RETURNS
Heyward returned to the Cubs’ lineup after experiencing shortness of breath and light-headedness in Sunday’s game against St. Louis. The veteran outfielder passed a series of tests over the last few days — including multiple COVID-19 tests — and was cleared to rejoin the team.
Heyward was concerned about possibly having the coronavirus after experiencing shortness of breath during his first at-bat Sunday. “It came out of nowhere,” he said. “Yes, naturally, that was a big concern of mine, for sure.”
CLEMENTE DAY HONORS
Heyward and the Reds’ Tucker Barnhart were named their team’s nominees for the Roberto Clemente Award, which is given annually to the player who best represents the game in character, community involvement and philanthropy.
José De León and Michael Lorenzen of the Reds and Javier Báez and Victor Caratini of the Cubs wore No. 21 to celebrate Clemente Day. All players of Puerto Rican heritage are allowed to wear the number to celebrate the late Hall of Famer. “Hopefully next year, we get to see everyone wear it,” Heyward said.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: LHP Wade Miley (shoulder sprain) threw a side session. “I got a good report,” manager David Bell said. “His next step may be to rejoin us. He’s passed all the tests.” ... LHP Jesse Biddle (shoulder) also continues to improve, but there’s no timetable for his return.
Cubs: 3B Kris Bryant was held out of the lineup after being hit with a pitch on the left elbow by Tyler Mahle in the third inning Tuesday night. Manager David Ross said he decided to sit the struggling slugger as a precaution. “Some guys like to push through,” Ross said. “He was pretty sore last night, so I wanted to take that off his plate.”
UP NEXT
Cincinnati veteran right-hander Sonny Gray (5-2, 3.19 ERA) takes on Cubs rookie right-hander Adbert Alzolay (0-1, 2.08) in the finale of the three-game series Thursday night.
