Cincinnati Reds battle back, defeat Chicago Cubs 7-6

There was a distinct worry that the fall-off from the top of the Cincinnati Reds rotation to its back-end would be precipitous. In Connor Overton’s first start of the season on Monday, those fears were certainly not allayed.

An early Overton meatball was clubbed for a 3-run homer by Cody Bellinger to put the Reds in a 3-0 hole against the Chicago Cubs that they eventually climbed out of completely, but Overton’s day ended early - his final line of 4.0 IP, 8 H, 5 ER, BB, 5 K on 80 pitches reads just as unispiring now as it did at the time.

Fortunately, Cincinnati’s offense put the screws to Drew Smyly offerings just as often as their counterparts did to Overton, with a 3-run blast by Joe…