AP

Reds avoid 100th loss with 3-2 walk-off win over Cubs

Oct 4, 2022, 6:53 AM | Updated: 7:38 pm

Cincinnati Reds' Mike Siani watches his single during the second inning of the team's baseball game...

Cincinnati Reds' Mike Siani watches his single during the second inning of the team's baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

(AP Photo/Jeff Dean)


              Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki (27) catches a fly ball hit by Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
            
              Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki, center, reacts after being called out on strikes during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
            
              Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Luis Cessa winds up during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
            
              Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Javier Assad throws during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
            
              Cincinnati Reds' Mike Siani watches his single during the second inning of the team's baseball game against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Spencer Steer doubled off Brandon Hughes in the ninth inning to score Stuart Fairchild and the Cincinnati Reds avoided their 100th loss, beating the Chicago Cubs 3-2 on Tuesday night.

The Reds (62-99) are trying to avoid the second 100-loss season in franchise history. They were 61-101 in 1982 while in the process of dismantling the dominant Big Red Machine clubs.

Chuckie Robinson tied it for Cincinnati in the seventh with a two-run homer off Keegan Thompson.

“Our team was playing like it was the middle of the summer, doing everything we could to win that game,” Reds manager David Bell said.

Alexis Diaz (7-3) was the winner.

Willson Contreras and Nico Hoerner homered for the Cubs. Hughes (2-3) took the loss. The season finale on Wednesday could be Contreras’ final game in a Cubs uniform.

Cubs starter Javier Assad allowed only four hits over five scoreless innings, retiring 11 straight in one stretch.

“I thought he really had the two-seamer going today,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “The breaking stuff wasn’t quite as sharp as it had been for me, but being able to navigate through the lineup was good.”

Luis Cessa held the Cubs hitless until Contreras led off the fourth with his 22nd home run of the season, two shy of his career high set in in 2019. Cessa left during the sixth inning with a knee injury.

Hoerner’s homer, his 10th of the season, made it 2-0 in the seventh before the Reds rallied.

“It was an exciting way to win a ballgame,” Steer said. “It’s a pretty cool feeling for me. We need to come in tomorrow and finish strong.”

AUDITION

It was the fourth career scoreless start for Assad who is bidding to be part of the Cubs rotation next season. Assad earned his second career win in his last start on Sept. 29 and is 2-2 with a 3.11 ERA. “It’s really not up to me, the decision on where I will fit for next season,” Assad said. “I will just have to put in the work in the offseason.”

TRAINERS ROOM

Reds: 2B Jonathan India left after fouling a ball off his left leg in the third. Matt Reynolds replaced him at 2B. … OF TJ Friedl (right hamstring strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list.

UP NEXT

The season finale for both teams Wednesday pits RHP Graham Ashcraft (5-5, 4.52) against RHP Adrian Sampson (4-5, 3.10).

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/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 avoid 100th loss with 3-2 walk-off win over Cubs