Schwarber's 2 homers send Cubs over Reds 5-4 in 13 innings

By foxsports
Published

CINCINNATI (AP) Kyle Schwarber grew up cheering for the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, hoping to someday get a chance to be there as a major leaguer. With two swings, he outdid them all.

The rookie catcher hit a tying two-run homer in the ninth inning, then completed yet another big night at Great American with a solo shot in the 13th, rallying the Chicago Cubs to a 5-4 victory on Tuesday.

Schwarber's homer off Nate Adcock (1-2) gave the rookie his first two-homer game, right in the ballpark where he attended games as a youth.

''It was a great feeling all-around,'' he said, with shaving cream from the team's clubhouse celebration in his left ear.

Schwarber, who had four hits Tuesday, grew up in nearby Middletown, Ohio, and was called up for six games last month. He hit his first homer in Cleveland. He finally got to play at Great American in the All-Star Futures game nine days ago and won the MVP award with a two-run triple.

Schwarber, the fourth overall draft pick last year, doubled home a run Tuesday and then tied it with his 424-foot homer in the ninth off J.J. Hoover, who was filling in as the closer while Aroldis Chapman got a day of rest. It was the first homer Hoover had allowed all season.

Schwarber fouled off four two-strike pitches to keep the at-bat going.

''He never appears to be in trouble,'' manager Joe Maddon said.

If he keeps hitting like that, he won't have to worry about getting sent back to the minors anytime soon.

''Now that it's here, it's just an awesome feeling to get to play in a ballpark in the major leagues,'' he said. ''Now I have to do my job and earn my way on this team.''

Jason Motte (7-1) allowed three hits in two innings. Justin Grimm pitched the 13th for his second save in three chances.

Cincinnati's Todd Frazier had another big game, driving in three runs with a sacrifice fly and a tiebreaking, two-run single in the seventh inning for a 4-2 lead.

Frazier had been in a deep slump since winning the All-Star Home Run Derby at Great American Ball Park, going hitless until he homered during a 5-4 win in the series opener on Monday. He kept it going Tuesday with his two-run single in the seventh off Pedro Strop.

The Cubs tied it 2-2 in the sixth on Chris Coghlan's solo homer, which was subject to a video review. The umpires initially ruled the ball was in play after it landed near the top of the wall in left field as a fan reached for it, with Coghlan making it to third base. He was awarded home after a 3-minute, 42-second review.

SCHWARBER STUFF

The catcher went 4 for 7 overall, his fourth multi-hit game in the majors. It's the second time he's had four hits in a game. He also had a single and an RBI double.

GOTCHA

Joey Votto led off the third with a single but was picked off by Jason Hammel. After Frazier hit his tiebreaking single in the seventh, he was picked off by Strop.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Cubs: Maddon is going easy with reliever Neil Ramirez, who was activated June 28 after being sidelined more than two months with an inflamed pitching shoulder. He hasn't thrown on consecutive days.

Reds: CF Billy Hamilton was out of the starting lineup, getting a day off. He went 0 for 3 on Monday night, dropping his batting average to .215.

UP NEXT:

Cubs: Kyle Hendricks and Dallas Beeler start a day-night makeup doubleheader on Wednesday. Hendricks made his major league debut at Great American on July 10 last season, his only appearance there.

Reds: Mike Leake and left-hander Tony Cingrani start the doubleheader. Cingrani will be activated off the DL, where he's been since June 15 with a strained pitching shoulder.

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