Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds (67-46)	0	2	3	0	0	3	0	1	1	10	15	0
Cubs (44-67)	1	0	2	0	0	1	2	2	0	8	13	5

Boxscore

In a game that took 3 hours and 56 minutes to play, a game that saw the Chicago Cubs commit 5 errors and a game with 18 combined runs scored, the Cincinnati Reds won to snap their 5-game losing streak.

It was an ugly game.

Homer Bailey started and ended up going 5 2/3 innings before being pulled. He loaded the bases in the first with no outs–an important harbinger of the day to come–and allowed a run before finishing the inning. Still, the 4 runs on 9 hits and 2 walks that he allowed over that time were somehow enough to get him his career-high 10th win.

The wind at Wrigley Field was doing crazy things to the ball yesterday, which contributed to the high-scoring affair. Ryan Ludwick and Todd Frazier were the offensive heros, with Ludwick going 3-5 with a walk, 4 runs scored, and 2 RBI from the game’s only home run. Frazier drove in 4 and scored a run, and had himself a 3-4 day with a walk.

The real star of the game, though, was Aroldis Chapman. After two consecutive losses due to late leads given up by the bullpen, it looked like it was about to happen again.

Jonathan Broxton started the 8th inning, but was again completely ineffective. He allowed 2 runs and the 3-run lead that the Reds had fought so hard for was in danger of slipping away. A 6th loss in a row would have been hard to swallow. Manager Dusty Baker made the right call, though, and with 2 outs in the 8th, he brought in Chapman for the 4-out, 1-run save.

And Chapman did it. He struck out 3 of the 4 batters he faced, picking up his 26th save. He’s been amazing this year, and I was very happy to see him enter. It’s hard for the wind in Wrigley to do crazy things to the ball when the batters can’t put it in play.

Thanks to losses from both the Pirates and Cardinals, the Reds’ first win in a week increases their lead in the standings by a game. They try to make this winning thing a streak today when Bronson Arroyo takes on former Red Travis Wood at 4:05pm EDT.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Reds (66-46)	2	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	8	1
Cubs (44-66)	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	2	-	5	7	1

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds continued going off the rails on their losing train last night, losing to the Chicago Cubs. Entering the game, both teams had losing streaks. I didn’t expect the Cubs’ streak to be the one to end. This is the Reds’ 5th consecutive loss, and their longest losing streak of the season.

Mike Leake started for Cincinnati and turned in a quality start: 6 innings and 3 runs. He also allowed 6 hits, walked 2, and struck out 5. The bullpen was ineffective for a second straight night, though, allowing 2 more runs in the 8th.

The Reds took the lead early, with Zack Cozart leading off the game with his 13th home run. Another run scored when a Ryan Ludwick ground out scored Drew Stubbs. The Reds stopped scoring in the 4th after Todd Frazier hit his 14th home run. But it wasn’t enough to get the win.

Winning streaks gloss over weaknesses of a team. It’s unfortunate that the Reds’ last streak coincided with the non-waiver trading deadline. General Manager Walt Jocketty has already shown his preference of inactivity. That combined with the team playing so well hid the black hole of ineptitude that manager Dusty Baker has available to him every game on his bench. Jocketty has given Baker nothing, and it showed last night, when Wilson Valdez batted in the 9th with a runner on and grounded into a double play to kill any chance of a comeback. That’s not the batter you want in that situation, but the Reds had no one better on the bench.

Joey Votto can’t come back soon enough.

The Reds try to stop the bleeding and maintain their 2 1/2 game lead over the Pittsburgh Pirates this afternoon. Homer Bailey will start against former Red Justin Germano at 2:20pm EDT.

Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman’s hair is no more.

A few weeks ago, Brennaman and bench coach Chris Speier were talking about the Reds ability to win 10 in a row. Brennaman disagreed and off-handedly said he’d shave his head if the team did it. When the team accomplished that feat last week, Brennaman said he’d go through with it. After last night’s game, a barber shop chair was set up on home plate, and Marty’s own personal barber shaved off the poofy white locks.

More than $50,000 was raised for the Reds Community Fund as part of the event last night.

“I’m thrilled that they raised the kind of money they did in four days,” Brennaman said after his historic haircut. “I have no complaints. It’s going to be interesting now to see how quickly my hair grows back, but I’m not going to worry about it.”

Very few left the stadium to witness the haircut after the game. And I’m sure the players enjoyed it, as well. Bronson Arroyo certainly did.

“The guys were pumped because we knew he just said that off-handedly on the bus,” said Reds pitcher Arroyo. “It was kind of a joke at the time, and then it started to get a little more serious. You never get to achieve some of those goals when people throw out those outlandish things. This one’s coming true, so it’s cool.”

Brennaman apparently intends to have it grow back. What I wonder is if he’ll have it shaved the stubble down again should the Reds win 10 more.

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pirates (60-45)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
Reds (65-41)	0	1	0	0	2	0	0	0	-	3	7	0

Boxscore

In the first game of the showdown between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates, Mat Latos dominated from both sides of the plate.

Latos went 7 1/3 innings and shut out the Pirates. He allowed 4 hits, 3 walks, and struck out none. With the shutout assistance from the bullpen–Jonathan Broxton and Aroldis Chapman–Latos picked up his 10th win of the season. He now joins Johnny Cueto as the second starter on the team with wins in the double-digits. Homer Bailey is likely to be next to join them, as he has 9 wins. Bronson Arroyo is a ways away with only 7.

On the offensive side, the Reds took the lead in the 2nd thanks to an inside-the-park home run from Chris Heisey. Latos himself contributed to making things easier for himself by hitting a 2-run home run in the 5th inning. The ball was caught by a Pirates fan who promptly got rid of the ball. It was the first home run of the year for Latos, but the 3rd of his career.

Three runs was more than enough for the Reds’ 65th win. The win increased the Reds’ lead over the Pirates to 4 games and assured Cincinnati of being alone in first no matter what happens in the remaining two games.

Being Devin Mesoraco is tough right now. Following his interaction with the horrible umpire Chad Fairchild on Monday, Major League Baseball handed down a 3-day suspension. And to top off his painful day, he’s also been placed on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion.

Mesoraco will appeal the suspension. As for the concussion, that was a last-minute move 30 minutes before game time.

Mesoraco left Tuesday’s game after six innings, with the Reds at the time saying Mesoraco had dizziness from being overheated. Mesoraco collided with Padres baserunner Cameron Maybin during Monday’s game.

Catcher Dioner Navarro was called up from the Louisville Bats. There wasn’t room on the 40-man roster, so Mike Costanzo had to be designated for assignment to make room for Navarro. Hopefully, Navarro will make it to the park before emergency catchers Wilson Valdez or Miguel Cairo would need to be used.

If you’re wondering about Mesoraco serving the suspension while he’s on the DL, I’m afraid that won’t fly. He won’t be allowed to serve his suspension while disabled. When he is suspended, the Reds will have to go with just 24 players, instead of the usual 25.