August 23, 2017

ESPNChicago.com, For Ben Zobrist, a lot can happen when you are late to the ballpark http://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/45477/for-ben-zobrist-a-lot-can-happen-when-you-are-late-to-the-ballpark

ESPNChicago.com, Kris Bryant's hand injury leads to rare moment for Anthony Rizzo http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/20423459/kris-bryant-chicago-cubs-leaves-being-hit-hand-pitch

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon on playing Anthony Rizzo at third: 'It made all the sense in the world' http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-joe-maddon-kris-bryant-20170822-story.html#nt=oft03a-1la1

Chicago Tribune, Ben Zobrist, Cubs offense arrive just in time in 13-9 win over Reds http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-reds-spt-0823-20170822-story.html

Chicago Tribune, Addison Russell believes he could rejoin Cubs by end of August http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-notes-cubs-addison-russell-return-close-spt-0823-20170822-story.html#nt=simple-embed

Chicago Tribune, Joe Maddon defends Javier Baez from 'old school' critics http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/ct-cubs-joe-maddon-javier-baez-20170822-story.html

Chicago Sun-Times, Kris Bryant avoids serious hand injury in Cubs’ comeback win http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/kris-bryant-avoids-serious-injury-to-hand-in-cubs-comeback-win/

Chicago Sun-Times, Cubs’ Russell eyes return from foot injury in time for September push http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/cubs-russell-eyes-return-from-foot-injury-in-time-for-september-push/

Daily Herald, Lackey off his game, but Chicago Cubs rally for win http://www.dailyherald.com/sports/20170822/lackey-off-his-game-but-chicago-cubs-rally-for-win

Cubs.com, Cubs surge past Reds for 4th straight victory http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/249966498/cubs-win-4th-straight-with-late-surge-vs-reds/

Cubs.com, Zobrist driving force for Cubs after late arrival http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/249981710/ben-zobrist-hits-clutch-double-in-cubs-win/

Cubs.com, Montgomery aims to help stay tough on Reds http://atmlb.com/2veSPbT

Cubs.com, Russell progressing, nearing return to Cubs http://m.cubs.mlb.com/news/article/249976672/addison-russell-progressing-with-foot-injury/

-- ESPNChicago.com For Ben Zobrist, a lot can happen when you are late to the ballpark By Jesse Rogers

CINCINNATI -- Chicago Cubs veteran Ben Zobrist learned the hard way that even World Series MVPs have to endure nightmare travel scenarios. After going home for the off-day, Zobrist learned a tough lesson when attempting to arrive in Cincinnati in time for the first pitch. First there was a rental car issue in Nashville, where he had to wait about 90 minutes for the agency to find a car even though he had made a reservation. Then having to eclipse traffic caused by those trying to leave town made his ride much longer than expected once he was able to get on the road. "I should have been here a lot earlier," Zobrist said, managing a half-smile after the game. "I was told I make enough money and should have booked a [private jet], which is probably true, but I guess I'm cheap. I learned my lesson." Arriving well after batting practice, Zobrist was pulled from the starting lineup, but he nonetheless helped the Cubs to a victory once he arrived, coming off the bench to hit a two-run double in a four-run seventh inning. The Cubs added five more in the eighth and pulled away to beat the Reds 13-9. "I came back in the dugout and said, 'When you show up for the game when I did, you better do something good,'" Zobrist recalled, adding that he has had actual nightmares about showing up late for a game. Of all people, Zobrist has always been extremely committed to his routine, so showing up just before game time is about as bad as it gets for him. He needs proper warm-up. "Are you kidding?" he exclaimed. "Absolutely. Holy smokes. I was flustered for about seven hours today." The Cubs' offense also showed up late, scoring 10 runs in the sixth-through-eighth innings to erase 3-0 and 6-3 deficits. Zobrist's double came after a great at-bat by Javier Baez, who tied the game with a broken-bat, two-run single to right field. The Baez single and Zobrist double were part of a 13-hit attack, but none of those hits left the yard. It was the first time since 2000 the Cubs had scored at least 13 runs without hitting a home run. That's really good news for a team that has trouble driving in men in scoring position without home runs. They started Tuesday's game 0-for-7 in that category. Of course, it doesn't hurt to face the Reds' pitching staff, which had walked nine batters. The day reminded Cubs manager Joe Maddon of a moment in 2008 when he and Zobrist were with the Tampa Bay Rays. Minor league call-up Dan Johnson's plane was late, so Zobrist got the start in his place, only to see Johnson hit a game-winning home run in the ninth inning. It was nearly déjà vu all over again. "I told that [Dan Johnson story] to him [Zobrist] before the game and here came that moment, double to right-center," Maddon said. Zobrist added: "I was there for that game [in Tampa Bay]. … It worked out for me, as well." As it did for the Cubs, who tightened their hold on first place in the National League Central. -- ESPNChicago.com Kris Bryant's hand injury leads to rare moment for Anthony Rizzo By Jesse Rogers

CINCINNATI -- An X-ray on Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant's left hand was negative after he was hit by a pitch from reliever Drew Storen in the ninth inning of the Cubs' 13-9 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night. "He got me good," Bryant said afterward. "It was more flesh [than bone]." Bryant was hit on the outside of his left hand not far from the pinkie that has been hurting him since last month after a slide into third base. He's considered day-to-day after Tuesday's hit-by-pitch. "I've been trying to make my hand feel better and of course you get hit in the same area where it's not feeling too great," Bryant said. "It's just frustrating." Cubs manager Joe Maddon said it's unlikely Bryant will play on Wednesday but was hopeful he wouldn't miss more than a day or two. "If he's going to miss time, I don't think it's a long time," Maddon said. The injury caused a ripple effect as the Cubs took the field in the bottom of the ninth holding a comfortable lead. Maddon was out of position players, save for catcher Rene Rivera. He pulled Bryant in order to get ice on his hand, which meant he needed a new third baseman. "I thought it would be wise to play [Anthony] Rizzo at third base to be the first Cub [left-hander] to play there since the 1800s," Maddon explained with a smile. Rivera was inserted at catcher while regular catcher Alex Avila took over for Rizzo at first base. The left-handed Rizzo moved across the diamond for his first action at third in his career. The ball never found him, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. "He was so excited," Maddon said. "It was either Avila at third, which is no fun. Or Rizzo at third, Avila at first, which is fun. And that's how we did it." Rizzo is the first left-hander to man third base for the Cubs since George Decker in 1895. The reigning MVP of the National League knows Rizzo won't forget who took over for him when he had to leave due to injury. "His Twitter bio is going to say he's a third baseman," Bryant said with a sigh. -- Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon on playing Anthony Rizzo at third: 'It made all the sense in the world' By Mark Gonzales Cubs manager Joe Maddon admitted he should have pulled slugger Kris Bryant sooner during the ninth inning of Tuesday's 13-9 win over the Reds after Bryant got hit on the left hand by a pitch from reliever Drew Storen. "(But) if I had anybody left, I would have," Maddon said. "I had to think it all the way through." Maddon's latest chapter of madness featured left-handed first baseman Anthony Rizzo moving to Bryant's position and becoming the first Cubs' left-handed throwing third baseman since Jimmy Ryan in 1886. "I thought it was wise to put Rizzo at third base to be the first Cub to play there since the 1800s," Maddon quipped. "Of course, I knew that. "It made sense to put Rizzo at third and a new first baseman in (Alex) Avila with all those left-handers coming up. It made all the sense in the world. It was one of those things."

The team doesn't expect Bryant to undergo further tests after X-rays taken after the game ruled out a fracture. But Bryant will likely sit out Wednesday night's game, especially since he's still bothered by a left pinkie sprain suffered July 19 at Atlanta. Meanwhile, Maddon already used infielders Tommy La Stella and Ben Zobrist as pinch-hitters before Bryant was struck by a pitch, causing him to become extremely creative. "Either Avila at third, which is no fun," Maddon said, "or Rizzo at third, Avila at first, which is fun. That’s how we did it." Maddon knew that Rizzo would seize the chance to play third, although he had no chances in the ninth. "He’'ll play shortstop," Maddon said. "He’ll go anywhere. He wants to pitch. I think the only place he doesn’t want to go is behind the plate." Maddon had a firm answer when asked if he would allow Rizzo to pitch. "No." -- Chicago Tribune Ben Zobrist, Cubs offense arrive just in time in 13-9 win over Reds By Mark Gonzales Ben Zobrist's wild journey Tuesday was just the start of a scary but successful mission for the Cubs. Zobrist was scratched from the starting lineup because of transportation issues in Nashville, Tenn., but he made up for it with a two-run, tiebreaking double in the seventh inning that vaulted the Cubs to a 13-9 victory over the Reds and pushed them 10 games over .500 for the first time this season. "Any way you can win a game is good, especially this time of year," said John Lackey, who was off the hook after the Cubs rallied for nine runs in the seventh and eighth innings. The Cubs survived a scare in the ninth, when slugger Kris Bryant was struck on the outside of his left hand by a pitch from reliever Drew Storen and left the game in the bottom of the inning. Postgame X-rays were negative, but Bryant isn't expected to play Wednesday night as he continues to cope with a swollen left pinkie that has persisted for nearly five weeks. "It got me good," Bryant said. "I'm just more frustrated trying to make my hand feel better, and of course I get hit in same area where it's not feeling too great. "It's just been a tough month. (Pitchers) have been sinking it inside a lot, and I've been fortunate to get out of the way. That one I didn't." Due to manager Joe Maddon's array of substitutions earlier in the game, the Cubs moved catcher Alex Avila to first base, inserted Rene Rivera at catcher and moved first baseman Anthony Rizzo to third base. Rizzo didn't have any fielding chances in the ninth, but he now holds the distinction of becoming the first left-handed player to play third base since Mario Valdez of the White Sox in 1997. He is the first Cubs lefty to play third since Jimmy Ryan in 1886. "Really?" Bryant said in astonishment. "Great. Now I have to hear about it. He's probably letting everyone hear it right now. He'll put it in his Twitter bio he's a third baseman."

As for Zobrist, his odyssey started when an auto rental company could not find his reservation. "And every other place we went, there was nothing," said Zobrist, who eventually arrived at Great American Ball Park an hour before the game. "It took about 1 1/2 hours to get anything available." Zobrist said the car shortage was due to people who rented cars to see the eclipse Monday. Zobrist's misery was compounded by traffic and some accidents on Interstate 65. Zobrist likes to arrive at the ballpark about four hours before first pitch. Teammates razzed him for not booking a private jet. "It's probably true. But I guess I'm cheap. I learned my lesson. Next time it won't happen again." -- Chicago Tribune Addison Russell believes he could rejoin Cubs by end of August By Mark Gonzales Shortstop Addison Russell believes he could rejoin the Cubs by the end of August. "I would say two weeks is a little bit too long," Russell said before fielding grounders and hitting an upper-deck home run. "But I'm definitely looking maybe 1 1/2 weeks at most. We're not too far off, maybe before then." Russell suffered a right foot strain on Aug. 2 and was placed on the 10-day disabled list. He is the closest to returning among three injured players who worked out under the supervision of trainer PJ Mainville and physical therapist Ryan Mertz about four hours before Tuesday night's game at Great American Ball Park. Russell simulated baseball-type running, from moving laterally to running short bursts to running around the perimeter of the infield. "I did everything I wanted my brain to do," Russell said. "Coming out and being explosive. I'm moving in the right direction, quicker than anticipated. I'll keep on this progression and see where we're at. I'm very pleased with where we're headed. "There's not too much soreness. It's starting to feel like my normal foot right now. But then again, you don't want to jump the gun." Catcher Willson Contreras, who suffered a moderate strain of his right hamstring on Aug. 9, also looked impressive running drills. Contreras was projected to miss four to six weeks, and he could return for the Brewers' series Sept. 8-10. "I don't want to get overexuberant about it," Maddon said. "I want to make sure he does this properly and that we have no setbacks." Jon Lester, who is eligible to return from the 10-day disabled list Monday, tested his left shoulder by playing catch. Extra innings: Left-hander Justin Steele, one of the Cubs' top pitching prospects, underwent Tommy John surgery, according to multiple reports. Steele, a fifth-round pick in the 2014 draft, posted a 2.92 ERA in 20 starts for Class-A Myrtle Beach. --

Chicago Tribune Joe Maddon defends Javier Baez from 'old school' critics By Mark Gonzales Cubs infielder Javier Baez’s dazzling defensive plays and dramatic hits and slides are sometimes overlooked by traditionalists who are agitated by his occasional blunders on routine plays. But manager Joe Maddon, in his latest defense of Baez, reminded skeptics that not everyone is perfect — including themselves. “Sometimes the old school guys forget what they looked like when they were young school guys,” Maddon said Tuesday night. “‘The older I get, the better I was.’ We all make mistakes. (Baez) is making mistakes. He makes mistakes that I’m certain a lot has to do with swinging at bad pitches and occasionally messing up a routine play. "It’s incredible how we get older, we think we never screwed up anything. He’s going to. I’ve talked about it. He’s going to do it again. A lot of young guys are, and that’s part of our developmental process." Maddon raved over Baez's effort, adding that he has benefited from taking over at shortstop for the injured Addison Russell and that Russell's foot strain could accelerate Baez's development as a player. “When it comes to the instinctive part of this game, it’s hard to match him at any age," Maddon said. "He knows what he’s doing out there, and sometimes he sees too much. And then he tries to do things that he sees that people don’t. "I’ll take his mistakes. They’re sincere and he’s so able to get rid of bad moments. He’s got that short term memory that can make him great.” Last weekend, Maddon compared Baez's flashy style to a Harlem Globetrotters basketball player. This time, Maddon mentioned slick-fielding infielders Omar Vizquel and Roberto Alomar Jr. in comparing Baez's style. "There’s certain elements of a guy’s game that I would never attempt to coach out of him," Maddon said. "But I would attempt to coach into them is making the routine play routinely. The moment you try to subtract from his joy on the field by making him into your perception of what he’s supposed to look like, you may lose a very good player." -- Chicago Sun-Times Kris Bryant avoids serious hand injury in Cubs’ comeback win By Gordon Wittenmyer CINCINNATI — It was all Kris Bryant could do to keep from wincing as he talked about the pitch that hit him Tuesday night, near the same place on his left hand that he sprained in Atlanta a month ago. At least he could laugh. Not only were X-rays negative, but the Cubs won an ugly marathon game 13-9 against the Reds — a game so ugly that Bryant’s replacement at third in the bottom of the ninth was his pal Anthony Rizzo. Rizzo became the first left-handed-throwing player to play third base in the majors since the White Sox’ Mario Valdez in 1997, and the first to play both second (on bunt defenses) and third in the same season since Wee Willie Keeler in 1901. “The only thing left,” manager Joe Maddon said of his options for subbing out Bryant after the ninth-inning HBP, “was either [Alex] Avila at third, which is no fun, or Rizzo at third, Avila at first, which is fun.”

Rizzo is the third lefty Cub to man third base and the first since George Decker played three games there in 1895. “Great, now we’re going to have to hear about it,” said Bryant, who was ruled out for Wednesday’s game in Cincinnati but wasn’t expected to miss much time. “He’s probably letting everybody hear about it now, sending 50 text messages. Gosh, now he’ll put his Twitter bio as a third baseman.” Bryant, the reigning National League MVP, could joke freely through the pain of the fresh bruise only because he appeared to escape — for the third time in less than two months — serious injury after an ugly mishap. “It could have been a lot worse,” said Bryant, who missed only one game in June after twisting his ankle on the bag at third while catching a popup, and only one more after the sprain in Atlanta. “That area is real fragile. There’s a lot of stuff going on there. I feel real fortunate.” The entire team should have felt the same way on a day that seemed to carry the strange, cosmic residue of Monday’s solar eclipse. Consider that Ben Zobrist, who came off the bench in the seventh to double home the go-ahead runs in a comeback win, was somewhere between Nashville, Tennessee, and Cincinnati while the rest of the team took batting practice Tuesday. “It was a frustrating morning and afternoon,” said Ben Zobrist, whose rental car agency failed to hold his reservation and didn’t have a car for him when he showed up Tuesday morning to make the drive from his home in Nashville. “I’m just happy I made it and was able to contribute something to the game. . . . I’ve had nightmares about being late to games before. And when you show up and can’t stay in the lineup because you’re showing up too late, it was a tough day.” Ian Happ, replacing Zobrist in the lineup, walked in the Cubs’ three-run fifth, eventually thrown out at the plate trying to score on Jason Heyward’s tying single to end the inning. He also singled home a run in the Cubs’ five-run eighth. Zobrist added a run-scoring grounder in the big eighth. It took more than four hours, included nine Cubs walks, a piece of infield history and at least one X-ray, but the Cubs got their fourth consecutive win as they continued their run through a stretch against last-place teams. They reached 10 games over .500 for the first time since finishing last season with 103 victories and moved to three games ahead of the second-place Brewers, who played late at San Francisco. -- Chicago Sun-Times Cubs’ Russell eyes return from foot injury in time for September push By Gordon Wittenmyer CINCINNATI — Injured Cubs shortstop Addison Russell took a significant step toward returning from the disabled list Tuesday and said he expects to back in less than two weeks. “Maybe a week and a half at the most,” said Russell, who has been on the DL since Aug. 3 because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. “We’re not too far out. Maybe even before that.” Russell stayed in Chicago to rehab during the team’s previous road trip. But he joined the team for this trip, taking grounders at short during early work and taking regular batting practice on the field with the team for the first time since the injury. “I did pretty much everything I wanted my brain to do today, coming out kind of explosive,” Russell said. “In the back of my mind, I’m moving in the right direction, kind of quicker than anticipated. We’ll just keep on this progression and we’ll see where we’re at.”

The team still hasn’t set a timeline for Russell’s return. “It’s starting to feel like my normal foot right now,” said Russell, an All-Star starter last year. “Then again, you don’t want to jump the gun. In the next couple days, we’re definitely going to monitor it even more. But we’re climbing that ladder, and now we’re getting closer.” Javy Baez has been the regular shortstop in Russell’s absence, averaging .290 with seven homers, 19 RBI and a .966 OPS in 18 games this month entering Tuesday. “The experience he’s gaining right now by playing as often as he is, is invaluable moving forward,” manager Joe Maddon said of Baez. “This might accelerate Javy’s development even more.” Contreras update Catcher Willson Contreras, who has been on the DL the last two weeks with an injured right hamstring, ran aggressively in drills before Tuesday’s game, but Maddon cautioned against assuming an early return. The Cubs consider Contreras in the early stages of activity after he was shut down to allow inflammation and pain to subside. No target date for a return has been determined. “He’s running pretty good, and I know he’s feeling pretty good, but I don’t want him to go too quickly, either,” Maddon said. “You’ve got to be careful with those kinds of injuries. “I don’t want to get over-exuberant about it. I want to make sure that he does this properly and we have no setbacks.” No coupe for you! Ben Zobrist was in the lineup at second base Tuesday — until a car-rental snafu delayed his departure for Cincinnati after he spent the day off at his home in Nashville, Tennessee. “Zo ran into a ‘Seinfeld’ episode today,” Maddon said. “He had a reservation for a vehicle in Nashville. When he got there, they failed to hold the reservation. Thus, he was late getting his vehicle; thus, he got caught in traffic.” Zobrist arrived about an hour before game time and was available off the bench. Ian Happ replaced him in the lineup and grounded out and struck out in his first two at-bats. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. -- Daily Herald Lackey off his game, but Chicago Cubs rally for win By Bruce Miles John Lackey has been one of the Chicago Cubs' stalwart starting pitchers since the all-star break. He's also not the shy and retiring type, so don't expect him to get too down on himself after Tuesday night's rough outing, as the Cubs came back for a 13-9 victory at the Great American Ball Park. With the win, the Cubs moved to 10 games over .500 (67-57) for the first time this season. The game took a strange turn in the ninth inning. Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant was hit with a pitch near the left wrist. He didn't come out of the game until the bottom of the inning. Bryant was taken out as a precaution. Minus the NL MVP and ahead 13-6, manager Joe Maddon shifted Rizzo across the diamond from first base to make his first career appearance at third -- a rare spot for a left-hander.

"Looking at it, the only thing left was (catcher Alex) Avila at third, which is no fun, or Rizzo at third and Avila at first, which is fun, and that's why we did it," Maddon said. Rizzo didn't get any balls hit his way in his role as only the third left-handed third baseman in Cubs history. George Decker and Jimmy Ryan also played there in the 1800s. Bryant's hand was fine -- X-rays were negative, and he might miss a day. He wasn't aware that Rizzo had taken his spot in the ninth, and he knew he wouldn't hear the end of it from his lefty fill-in. "He'll put that on his Twitter bio: Third baseman," Bryant said. It was a season-long bugaboo that sent Lackey to an early exit Tuesday as the Cubs opened a three-game series. Lackey gave up 2 home runs as he lasted 5 innings. The home runs were the 30th and 31st of the season given up by Lackey, putting him back into the lead in that dubious category in the National League. Lackey gave up single runs in each of the first three innings, with Scooter Gennett connecting for his 22nd homer of the season in the third. The Cubs tied the game with 3 in the fifth, but a 3-run homer by Eugenio Suarez in the bottom of the inning put the Reds up 6-3. The Cubs got Lackey off the hook for a loss with a 4-run seventh inning. Until Tuesday, Lackey had made 6 starts since the all-star break, going 5-0 with a 3.06 ERA. His post-break ERA rose to 4.10. In the first half, Lackey was 5-9 with a 5.20 ERA. Overall, Cubs starting pitchers have been getting it done since the break. Jake Arrieta is 5-1 with a 2.00 in the unofficial second half, and Kyle Hendricks has a 2.45 despite an 0-1 record and 5 no-decisions since he came off the disabled list. Carlos Quintana has been up and down, going 4-2 with a 3.73 ERA since the break, when he was traded from the White Sox to the Cubs. It will be important for the starters to keep this up as ace Jon Lester completes his time on the 10-day disabled list with shoulder fatigue. Lester's replacement, Mike Montgomery, pitches Game 2 of the series Wednesday night. Montgomery has been a valuable swing man who is 2-3 with a 5.13 ERA as a starting pitcher and 1-3 with a 2.57 ERA as a reliever. -- Cubs.com Cubs surge past Reds for 4th straight victory By Mark Sheldon and Andrew Call CINCINNATI -- The Cubs have certainly had to scrape and fight for their wins the last couple of days. Trailing twice to the Reds, a four-run seventh inning and five-run eighth helped Chicago emerge with a 13-9 victory -- its fourth in a row. On Sunday vs. the Blue Jays, the Cubs needed three runs in the 10th inning to win -- after giving up two in the top half. On Tuesday, the Reds blew leads of 3-0 and 6-3. "The guys picked me up tonight," said John Lackey after the Cubs won their eighth consecutive game in which he has started despite him being charged with six runs in five innings. "Any way you win games is good." The first-place Cubs maintained a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League Central standings with the Brewers' 4-3 win over the Giants on Tuesday night.

After Michael Lorenzen's one-out walk in the seventh to Anthony Rizzo, lefty Wandy Peralta gave up four straight two-out hits. Following a bad-luck ricocheted infield hit off of the pitcher, a broken-bat single by Javier Baez scored two runs and tied the game. Ben Zobrist's pinch-hit two-run double was rocketed to right-center field for an 8-6 lead. "There were some very good at-bats. Then things just unraveled from there," Reds manager Bryan Price said. Reds reliever Blake Wood had another disastrous outing, where his first six batters of the eighth inning reached safely -- the first three via walks. That led to five more runs scoring to break the game wide open as nine men batted in the inning. Wood has given up 11 earned runs over his last two appearances with five walks. On the heels of the Cubs making it a 3-3 game in the top of the fifth, Eugenio Suarez put the Reds back in front in the bottom half against starter Lackey. On a 2-2 pitch, Suarez lifted a three-run homer to left-center field. In the ninth against Felix Pena, he added a two-run homer for a career-high five RBIs. Lackey went five innings, allowing six earned runs, nine hits and one walk with three strikeouts in a no-decision. With two out in the third vs. Lackey, Scooter Gennett staked the Reds to a 3-0 lead with his 22nd homer of the season -- a solo shot to right field. However, starter Homer Bailey was unable to stick around after the third because of an irritation in the back of his shoulder. Kevin Shackelford took over in the fourth and struggled to get through the fifth as the Cubs sent eight men to the plate. MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Baez battles back: Facing Peralta in the seventh, Baez was down quickly in an 0-2 count before working the at-bat for three-straight balls. After Baez fouled off a changeup, Peralta threw a 98-mph fastball and broke his bat. The ball rolled softly through the right side of the infield for a two-run single that briefly made it 6-6. Duvall's arm ends rally: After Shackelford's four-pitch walk to Alex Avila loaded the bases with two out in the fifth, Jason Heyward hit the tying RBI single to left field. After Rizzo scored, Ian Happ also tried to come home with the potential go-ahead run. Duvall made a perfect throw to Tucker Barnhart at the plate and Happ was tagged for the third out. Duvall leads all Major League outfielders with 12 assists. Reds outfielders also lead the Majors with 32 assists. QUOTABLE "It's been tough. It's hard to watch because he puts his heart and soul in what he does. He's totally invested. To watch him struggle like this has been really challenging, just from a personal standpoint and from a team standpoint. ... This run here has been kind of ugly." -- Price, on Wood's recent stretch of performances SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS Between Lackey's two walks and singles by Bailey, Shackelford and Lorenzen, the pitchers combined to reach in all five of their plate appearances. The last time three Reds pitchers had at least one hit in a game was May 19, 1999, at Colorado when Denny Neagle, Steve Parris and Ron Villone all collected hits. Following being hit on the left hand by a Drew Storen pitch in the top of the ninth, Kris Bryant left the game. In the bottom of the ninth, Rizzo shifted across the diamond to play third base. He became the first left-handed throwing third baseman to play in the Majors since Mario Valdez did it for the White Sox on July 2, 1997, and the first for the Cubs since George Decker in 1895 and Jimmy Ryan in 1886. "He'll probably put himself down as a third baseman in his Twitter bio," Bryant said. The only available position player for the Cubs at that point was catcher Rene Rivera. BRYANT SAYS HE'S OK

X-rays taken on Bryant's hand after the game revealed only a contusion, but he will likely get a day off on Wednesday. Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he had planned to give Bryant a day off soon anyway. "I'm OK, I think," Bryant said. "I think it could have been a lot worse. That part of the hand is pretty fragile." UNDER REVIEW In a potential inning-ending double play, Jon Jay grounded to Gennett, who threw to shortstop Zack Cozart covering second base to get Lackey. Cozart's foot came off the bag and he dropped the ball in the transfer. Lackey was called out by umpire Adam Hamari, but the Cubs challenged and the call was overturned because Cozart's foot was not touching second base, and he was charged with an error. WHAT'S NEXT Cubs: Left-hander Mike Montgomery (3-6, 3.64 ERA) will make his ninth start as the series against the Reds continues on Wednesday at 6:10 p.m. CT at Great American Ball Park. Montgomery, who has pitched in 27 games in relief and is filling in for the injured Jon Lester, made his last start on July 19 at Atlanta, giving up one run over six innings. Reds: Right-hander Asher Wojciechowski will step in for the injured Scott Feldman and start Wednesday's middle game against the Cubs at 7:10 p.m. ET. Wojciechowski started vs. the Cubs on Aug. 14 at Wrigley Field, and he was tagged for seven earned runs and 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings in a 15-5 loss. -- Cubs.com Zobrist driving force for Cubs after late arrival By Andrew Call CINCINNATI -- Better late than never. Ben Zobrist, scratched from the starting lineup when he was late arriving to the ballpark due to a rental car snafu, logged a pinch-hit, go-ahead double in the seventh inning on Tuesday night as the Cubs won their fourth in a row -- a 13-9 victory over the Reds. The veteran second baseman had gone home to Nashville, Tenn., for Monday's off-day and planned to rent a car there for the four-hour drive to Cincinnati. However, when he arrived at the rental car desk, he was told the company was out of vehicles. "I've had nightmares about this before," Zobrist said. "I was flustered for about seven hours today until I got here. It was pretty stressful." Zobrist eventually got a car, after stops at several other rental counters, but he then got stuck in traffic. Cubs manager Joe Maddon knew time was running short and believed it was a safer call to insert Ian Happ into the lineup. The Cubs, who trailed by three runs after five innings and entered the seventh down 6-4, strung together four consecutive two-out hits off Reds left-hander Wandy Peralta. No. 8 hitter Javier Baez drove in two runs with a broken-bat single to right (after battling back from 0-2 to a full count), bringing up the No. 9 spot (Tommy La Stella had pinch-hit for pitcher John Lackey in the sixth). Zobrist entered the game and, on the second pitch he saw, belted a long drive to right-center field that bounced off the warning track, then off the fence, easily scoring the go-ahead runs. "When you show up for the game when I did, you better do something out there," Zobrist said.

The Cubs tacked on five more runs off Blake Wood in the eighth inning, with Zobrist driving in the fifth run on a groundout. -- Cubs.com Montgomery aims to help stay tough on Reds By Andrew Call Mike Montgomery will become a full-time member of the Cubs' starting pitching rotation someday. For now, he remains the starter-in-waiting. But not for long. "I see him as a Major League starter," manager Joe Maddon said before Tuesday's series opener. "He knows his best fit for us right now is in that [relief] role. Moving forward, he knows his day is going to come." With Jon Lester on the disabled list, Montgomery will get a few more of "his" days. He will start Wednesday's middle game against the Reds at Great American Ball Park. The first-place Cubs maintained a 2 1/2-game lead in the National League Central with a 13-9 win in the series opener and the Brewers' 4-3 win over the Giants on Tuesday. Montgomery is 3-6 with a 3.64 ERA in eight starts and 27 relief appearances. As a starter, his ERA is 5.13, but that is not the only applicable metric. According to Statcast, Montgomery has thrown 63.7 percent strikes in his eight starts, compared with 57.7 percent out of the bullpen, and also has a much higher first-pitch strike rate (66.3 percent vs. 52.8 percent). As a starter, he has thrown 30.4 percent of his pitches while ahead in the count, up from 23.1 percent as a reliever. In Montgomery's most recent start on July 19 against Atlanta, he allowed one run on two hits over six innings. "When he learns not to force a pitch into a situation, he'll be very good," Maddon said. The Reds will counter with Asher Wojciechowski (3-2, 5.36), one of four rookies in their rotation. The right-hander started against the Cubs on Aug. 14, giving up seven runs on 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings in a 15-5 loss. Three things to know about this game • The only Reds with 10 or more career at-bats against Montgomery are Billy Hamilton (.182 with a double) and Joey Votto (.300 with a double). No Cubs hitter has more than three at-bats against Wojciechowski. • Tuesday marked the start of 20 games in 20 days for the Cubs. Their next off-day is slated for Sept. 11. • The Reds have used 14 starting pitchers this season. Through Monday, only the Mariners (16) and Twins (16) had used more. -- Cubs.com Russell progressing, nearing return to Cubs By Andrew Call CINCINNATI -- Cubs shortstop Addison Russell said on Tuesday that he is "climbing the ladder" in his recovery from a strained right foot and is starting the countdown to a return to action. "I think two weeks is too long," Russell said prior to the series opener against the Reds. "I would say a week and a half at the most."

Russell worked out in front of the team's medical staff on Tuesday afternoon. Russell took ground balls and said he was able to move well laterally, noting, "It's starting to feel like my normal foot." "He made our trainers happy," manager Joe Maddon said. Russell last played on Aug 2. His replacement, Javier Baez, has been spectacular at times, but Maddon has insisted Russell will retain his starting job when he returns. "He's been great out there," Russell said of Baez. Baez entered the series opener hitting .268 with an .808 OPS, 20 home runs and 59 RBIs in 354 at-bats. Russell is hitting .241 with a .722 OPS, 10 homers and 36 RBIs in 319 at-bats. --