Cubs blow two-run lead in 13th and lose 5-4 to Reds
BY GORDON WITTENMYER gwittenmyer@suntimes.com April 22, 2013 11:10PM
CINCINNATI, OH - APRIL 22: Shin-Soo Choo #17 of the Cincinnati Reds runs to first base after drawing a walk during the game against the Chicago Cubsat Great American Ball Park on April 22, 2013 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI – Cincinnati Reds shortstop Cesar Izturis, the former Cub, hit a walk-off single to right field, driving in Jay Bruce from third base with two out in the bottom of the 13th inning to beat the Cubs 5-4 in the opener of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park – capping a three-run rally that wiped out the lead the Cubs gained in the top of the inning.
Xavier Paul opened the Cincinnati 13th with a single to right on an 0-2 pitch from Bowden, and one out later, Brandon Phillips flared a ball into right field that went for a double when right-fielder Dave Sappelt came up short on a diving attempt.
That put runners at second and third for Bruce, who lined a two-run double to the gap in right to tie the game. He went to third on Todd Frazier’s grounder to second, setting the stage for Izturis.
Luis Valbuena’s two-run homer in the top of the 13th inning off right-hander Alfredo Simon had given the Cubs a 4-2 lead
The Cubs led much of the game behind the dominant pitching of left-hander Travis Wood, the former Red who took a two-hit shutout into the seventh before Jay Bruce led off that inning with a homer.
One out later, Chris Heisey reached on an infield single, and Wood left the game, clinging to a 2-1 lead – which disappeared two batters later on Jack Hannahan’s triple to right.
Wood’s performance marked the Cubs’ 10th quality start of the season – with just three wins for those starters to show for it.
The rotation’s ERA is 3.11, which ranks third in the National League. The starters are a combined 3-10.
