AP

Reds have highest-scoring day in 23 years, rout Cubs 20-5

May 26, 2022, 2:01 AM | Updated: 3:25 pm

Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto, left, exchanges words with Chicago Cubs' Willson Contreras during the ...

Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto, left, exchanges words with Chicago Cubs' Willson Contreras during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. The Reds won 20-5. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)

(AP Photo/Aaron Doster)


              Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto, left, exchanges words with Chicago Cubs' Willson Contreras during the seventh inning of a baseball game in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. The Reds won 20-5. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              MLB umpire Will Little, left, talks with Chicago Cubs' David Ross after being ejected during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. The Reds won 20-5. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              Cincinnati Reds' Kyle Farmer hits a two-run single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel, right, sits with Jonathan Villar in the dugout as play is suspended due to inclement weather during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              Cincinnati Reds' Albert Almora Jr. hits a two-run single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              Chicago Cubs' Justin Steele throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              Chicago Cubs' Frank Schwindel hits a two-RBI double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              Chicago Cubs' Christopher Morel runs the bases as he hits for a double during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ, left, high-fives Christopher Morel after scoring a run on a double hit by Frank Schwindel during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner crosses home plate after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              Chicago Cubs' Willson Contreras, left, fields the ball as Cincinnati Reds' Tyler Stephenson scores a run on single by Albert Almora Jr. during the third inning of a baseball game in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              Cincinnati Reds' Kyle Farmer runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
            
              Cincinnati Reds' Albert Almora Jr. yells as he scores a run on a triple by Mark Reynolds during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Cincinnati, Thursday, May 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)

CINCINNATI (AP) — After getting a cortisone shot and a few days off, Kyle Farmer helped power the Cincinnati Reds to their highest-scoring game in 23 years.

Farmer homered twice, had four hits and tied his career high with five RBIs in a 20-5 rout of the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

“I was hurting pretty bad in Toronto, but I’m just glad it’s gone now,” said Farmer, who had missed four games. “Had to take some time off, get a shot and have some rest and recovery.”

Nick Senzel also had four hits, and Brandon Drury, Tommy Pham and Albert Almora Jr. had three apiece. Drury Pham, Almora and Matt Reynolds each had three RBIs.

The Reds entered with a .217 batting average, 28th among the 30 teams, and finished with 20 hits in all.

Cincinnati trailed 3-0 before scoring twice in the second and bursting ahead with eight runs in the third.

The Reds scored the most runs since a 22-3 win at Philadelphia on Sept. 4, 1999, while Chicago gave up its most since a 21-8 defeat at the Phillies on July 3, 1999.

Cubs shortstop Andrelton Simmons made his big league pitching debut, allowing five runs in the eighth.

Hunter Greene (2-6) won for the first time since his major league debut on April 10 despite giving up five runs, seven hits and two walks in five innings. He had been 0-6 with a 5.50 ERA in his previous seven starts.

Willson Contreras and Ian Happ hit back-to-back homers in the fifth. Nico Hoerner also homered for the Cubs.

Cubs starter Justin Steele (1-5) gave up seven runs, seven hits and two walks in two-plus innings.

“Steele was just behind in the count,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “There were a lot of three-ball counts in that one inning. They hit some pretty good pitches. He seems to have that one inning where he loses command a little bit. Sometimes he locks it back in. Sometimes he’s not able to.”

Farmer, who came in with just one home run this season, hit a two-run homer in the second inning and a solo shot in fifth for his first career multihomer game, and then added a two-run single in the sixth.

His sacrifice bunt was the only out among the Reds’first 10 batters in the third, who combined for four singles, three walks, a double and a triple

“He wants to be out there every day,” Reds manager David Bell said. “That position is a real grind, and he’s so important to our team. He puts a lot on himself. So getting the break, getting a few days off, he came back out today and was definitely energized.”

Reynolds hit a two-run triple, and Tyler Stephenson and Almora had two-run singles in the third.

The game was delayed by rain for 59 minutes at the end of the fifth.

TENSION

Contreras flipped his bat and walked slowly to first following his no-doubt homer off Greene. When Contreras came to the plate to leading off the seventh, Joel Kuhnel plunked hit him on a shoulder with the first pitch, a 95.4 mph offering. Contreras grumbled and Ross came out to complain to umpires. The Cubs manager was ejected from Wednesday night’s game after some high and tight pitches caused tempers to flare on both sides. Joey Votto and Cubs reliever Rowan Wick — who had jawed at each other Wednesday night — had words again after Wick struck out Votto in the seventh.

TRAINERS ROOM

Cubs: RF Seiya Suzuki left after injuring his left ring finger during an awkward slide in the third inning. Ross said he should be OK … INF Nick Madrigal will start a rehab assignment on Saturday at Iowa. He has been out with back tightness. … LHP Alec Mills is scheduled to pitch three innings on a rehab assignment on Friday, about 55 pitches. Mills is on the 60-day IL and not eligible to come off until June 8

Reds: SS Jose Barrero (wrist surgery) is going to stay at Triple-A Louisville for the time being. “He could come back at any point but we’re not going to rush that,” manager David Bell said.

UP NEXT

Cubs: Opens a two-game series at the Chicago White Sox following an off day Friday. Right-hander Johnny Cueto (0-0), who was signed to a minor league earlier this month, is slated to make his third start for the White Sox. The Cubs haven’t said who’ll start yet.

Reds: Open a three-game set at home with the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. LHP Carlos Rodon (4-3) is the scheduled starter for the Giants against a Reds pitcher who’s still to be determined.

____

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

1 year ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

1 year ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

1 year ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

1 year ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

1 year ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

1 year ago

Reds have highest-scoring day in 23 years, rout Cubs 20-5