Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (8/11/22): Cubs 4, Reds 2 – Cubs Win Field of Dreams Game

The Cubs were in Iowa, not Heaven, on Thursday night to take on the Reds in the Field of Dreams game. The only voices they heard were from the pitchcom device and they were able to erase Cincinnati like an army of steamrollers.

Patrick Wisdom was hit by a pitch from Nick Lodolo with two outs in the top of the 1st inning. Seiya Suzuki doubled to score Wisdom from first base. Suzuki would come in to score a single from Nico Hoerner. Ian Happ followed with another double to make it  3-0.

Nick Madrigal singled in a run in the 4th inning to increase the lead to four. Drew Smyly pitched well, despite allowing some baserunners, and lasted through five innings.

The Cubs built a lead and the Reds fought back.

In the 7th, Matt Reynolds ripped a two-run double off of Michael Rucker to cut the deficit in half. Brandon Hughes took over and got six consecutive outs to keep the Reds at bay.

The Cubs’ new closer Rowan Wick came on in the 9th and closed out the game with very little drama. (Box score)

Why the Cubs Won

The bullpen was terrific, especially after Cincinnati scored a pair of runs in the 7th, retiring the final nine batters they faced.

Eye on the Future

• Madrigal racked up three hits and had a pair of stolen bases as he continues to play well, tonight from the leadoff spot.
• Suzuki put up more good plate appearances and walked twice in addition to his double.
• Hughes has his ERA down to 3.12 and struck out three in his perfect evening.

Stats That Matter

• Willson Contreras appeared to sprain his ankle running around second base in the 3rd inning. Despite originally being in significant pain Willson was able to stay in the game.
• Smyly didn’t go the distance, but he had a solid start: 5 IP, 0 R, 4 H, 9 K, and 2 BB.

Bottom Line

Well that game was a lot of fun, save for the bizarre Harry Caray hologram that sang the seventh-inning stretch. The Cubs new hard-throwing young bullpen might be better than expected, another good sign for 2023.

On Deck

After a day off Friday, the Cubs head to Cincinnati for game two against the Reds at 5:40pm CT. Adrian Sampson takes the hill against Moonlight Graham Ashcraft in a game available on Marquee Sports Network and 670 The Score.