The Reds did the unthinkable on Tuesday by losing a game and a series to the woeful Cubs by a score of 3-8.

Brandon Claussen led the charge and was uncharacteristically good until the rain delay in the fourth inning. When it was all said and done, he allowed five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks through five innings pitched.

Rick White flagged in his inning of work, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits. Brian Shackelford, soon to be optioned to Louisville, gave up a hit and a walk before he notched a single out.

Justin Germano held the Cubs hitless but did surrender a walk in the seventh. Kent Mercker gave up a homerun (earned) in the eighth. He's looked not-so-sharp since his return from the DL.

In the second inning, Adam Dunn hit a double and Edwin Encarnación knocked him in two batters later. In the sixth inning, Ken Griffey, Jr. singled and Dunn doubled. Austin Kearns brought in Griffey on a ground out and Javier Valentín brought home Dunn on a single. And that's all the Reds would need for the humiliating defeat. The team only stranded six.

The loss brought the Reds' record to 28-24. They would finish out the series on Wednesday, sending Eric Milton to try to avoid the sweep against Carlos Zambrano.