The game turned in one devastating inning. Chicago scored seven runs in the fourth to transform a 1-0 lead into an 8-0 rout, cruising to an 8-3 victory over Cincinnati at Wrigley Field.
Shota Imanaga dominated through six innings, allowing 1 run on 6 hits while striking out 10. The left-hander improved to 4-2 with a 2.47 ERA, controlling the strike zone despite issuing 3 walks.
Michael Conforto sparked the fourth-inning explosion after opening the scoring with a solo homer in the second. Bregman scored on Conforto's walk, then Happ scored on Swanson's fielder's choice. Conforto scored on Crow-Armstrong's single, Swanson and Crow-Armstrong both scored on Amaya's single to center, Amaya scored on Hoerner's double, and Hoerner scored on Ballesteros' sacrifice fly. The seven-run frame buried Cincinnati before the middle innings.
Rhett Lowder lasted just three innings for the Reds, allowing 3 runs on 1 hit but walking 4 batters. The right-hander fell to 3-3 with a 5.40 ERA as his control problems proved costly in the decisive fourth inning.
Chicago extended its winning streak to eight games and improved to 25-12, maintaining first place in the division. Cincinnati's losing streak reached six games as the Reds fell to 20-17. Alex Bregman sits two doubles away from 300 career doubles.