The Cincinnati Reds got a complete game one-hitter from ace Hunter Greene in a 1-0 victory over the division rival Chicago Cubs on Thursday night. The win keeps the Reds’ playoff hopes alive. The team currently sits tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks, two games behind the New York Mets in the race for the last wild card spot.
For Greene, it was his first career complete game. The flamethrowing righty, who was drafted straight out of high school, threw nine innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out nine. Greene is now 7-4 on the season in 18 starts, with a 2.74 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. He has struck out 125 batters in 101 2/3 innings while walking only 24 hitters.
The Reds scored the only run of the game in the fourth inning. Left fielder Austin Hays led off the inning with a double to deep right-center off of Cubs’ starter Colin Rea. After third baseman Sal Stewart struck out swinging, right fielder Will Benson drove home Hays with another double to the same gap in right-center.
Rea gave the Cubs every chance to get back in the game. The righty struck out a career-high 11 over seven strong innings. He gave up just the one run on four hits and did not walk a batter. Deadline acquisition, Michael Soroka pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing one walk and striking out one.
The Cubs’ only real chance to score a run came in the top of the seventh inning. After Ian Happ and Moises Ballesteros struck out to start the inning, right fielder Seiya Suzuki hit a two-out double into the left field corner. The next batter, catcher Carson Kelly, was unable to capitalize, though, grounding out to second to end the inning. That would be the only time in the game that the Cubs had a runner make it as far as second base.
With nine games left on their schedule, every game will be crucial for the Reds. They will have to leapfrog both the Diamondbacks and the Mets to get into the playoffs. Cincinnati has won three of its last four games, and its pitching staff has only allowed two runs over its last 23 innings. The Reds host three more games against the Cubs before three games at home against the Pittsburgh Pirates and three games on the road against the Milwaukee Brewers.
New York, too, has won three of its last four, but the team was in a tailspin before that. They were 11-17 in August and lost eight in a row in early September. The Mets have three games at home against the Washington Nationals, three in Chicago against the Cubs, and finish with three road games against the Miami Marlins.
The Diamondbacks, who are five and five in their last ten games, have the toughest remaining schedule of the three teams. Arizona finishes up its current nine-game home stand with three games against the Philadelphia Phillies, followed by three games against the Los Angeles Dodgers. They wrap up the regular season on the road for three games in San Diego against the Padres.
The Cubs already clinched their first playoff berth since 2020 with a win over the Pirates on Wednesday. They currently have a five-game lead over the Padres for the top wild-card spot. After the final three games of their series in Cincinnati, Chicago will close out the regular season at home. The team will host the Mets for three games, starting September 23, then finish with three games against the St. Louis Cardinals.
On Friday, the Reds will send Nick Lodolo (8-8, 3.30 ERA) to the mound for game two of their four-game set against Chicago. The Cubs will counter with Shota Imanaga (9-7, 3.29 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 5:40 p.m. (CST).
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