The way the Cubs (82-69) have been playing lately, it just felt like a matter of time before they’d get the jump on the Reds (71-81). With St. Louis losing earlier, a win would have pulled the Cubs to within a game in the Central. Alas, Yu Darvish gave up three runs in the 1st inning and Sonny Gray cooled the red-hot bats of the Cubs as the Reds won the middle game of this set 4-2.
This game was basically decided in the top of the 1st inning as Darvish was ambushed by a single from Josh VanMeter, a double by Joey Votto, and yet another home run against the Cubs for Aristides Aquino to make things 3-0 before the Cubs could even get off the field.