CINCINNATI (AP) — Mike Moustakas hit a two-run single as Cincinnati scored five times in the fourth inning on just one hit, and the Reds took advantage of wild Chicago White Sox pitching for a 7-3 win Sunday.
Aristides Aquino hit a two-run homer as the surging Reds stayed in contention for a playoff spot, beating the AL Central leaders for their seventh win in eight games.
Cincinnati broke away by turning six walks, a hit batter and Moustakas’ single into a big inning. The playoff-bound White Sox issued a season-high 11 walks and hit three batters overall.
Chicago starter Dylan Cease (5-3) was pulled after walking the bases loaded with no outs in the fourth. At that point, he hadn’t allowed a run or hit, but had walked a career-worst seven and struck out five.
Two runs scored on infield outs and another came home on a bases-loaded walk before Moustakas singled for Cincinnati’s first hit.
The White Sox scored on back-to-back RBI singles by Nick Madrigal and José Abreu in the fifth.
Aquino answered with an upper-deck drive to left. He celebrated his second homer with his trademark right arm flex as he rounded third.
Reds starter Michael Lorenzen struck out a career-high eight in 4 2/3 innings. He allowed two runs on two hits and two walks.
Lucas Sims (3-0) pitched 2 1/3 innings to get the win.
Former Reds star Edwin Encarnacion lined an opposite-field homer into the right field seats for his 10th homer of the season in the eighth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
White Sox: Tim Anderson left the game with cramping in his left hamstring one pitch into his seventh inning at-bat.
Reds: Freddy Galvis was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs in the second inning. Galvis has been hit by pitches a team-high six times this season.
UP NEXT
White Sox: Rookie RHP Dane Dunning (2-0) makes his first career appearance against Cleveland on Monday.
Reds: RHP Luis Castillo (3-5) is 3-5 in 10 career starts against Milwaukee, including 1-3 in five starts over the past two seasons.
