CINCINNATI — — Pete Crow-Armstrong had two home runs — including a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning — and drove in six runs as the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 13-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.
It is the second six RBI game for Crow-Armstrong in eight days. According to Sportradar, he is the first Cubs player to have two six RBI games in a calendar month dating to at least 1920. The last player to do it in the majors before Crow-Armstrong was Derek Dietrich, who accomplished the feat in May 2019 for the Reds.
Crow-Armstrong drove in six runs from the leadoff spot in the Cubs’ 13-3 victory over the crosstown rival White Sox on May 16. He batted cleanup on Friday night.
Seiya Suzuki had a three-run homer in the eighth inning and Dansby Swanson added a two-run shot in the ninth for the NL Central-leading Cubs, who have won three straight and six of seven.
The Cubs trailed 6-2 before putting up six runs in the seventh. Kyle Tucker lined a base hit to right with the bases loaded to drive in two. After Suzuki’s single loaded the bases, Crow-Armstrong — who got the Cubs on the board with a two-run shot in the fourth — drove an elevated slider by Tony Santillan (0-1) off the right-field foul pole for his 14th homer of the season and first career grand slam.
Chris Flexen (2-0), the third of six Cubs pitchers, got the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Key moment
Cincinnati second baseman Matt McLain helped set the stage for the Cubs’ big inning when he fielded Matt Shaw’s grounder and tried to tag out Nico Hoerner. Both runners were safe.
Key stat
With his base hit in the first, Cincinnati shortstop Elly De La Cruz became the fastest player in major league history since RBI became an official stat in 1920 to reach 300 hits, at least 150 RBI and at least 100 stolen bases for his career. De La Cruz did in 310 games, surpassing Hanley Ramirez, who did it in 328 games for the Florida Marlins (2005-08).
Up next
Right-hander Colin Rea (3-0, 2.38 ERA) takes the hill for the Cubs. The Reds counter with lefty Andrew Abbott (3-0, 1.80 ERA).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
