Kris Bryant On Hot Streak For Cubs

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Published on August 15 2017 6:30 am
Last Updated on August 15 2017 6:30 am

By ESPN

The Chicago Cubs waited all season for a hot streak from NL MVP Kris Bryant. Now that he's on one, they want it to last a while.

"My history with him is when he gets it, it stays there," manager Joe Maddon said.

Bryant and Anthony Rizzo hit back-to-back homers to cap a five-run fourth inning, and the Cubs continued their recent dominance of the Cincinnati Reds with a 15-5 victory Monday night.

Bryant went 2 for 4 with a walk and has reached safely in 16 of his last 20 plate appearances.

"It's a special stretch," said Rizzo, who was 3 for 5 with a season-high five RBI. "It was a matter of time before he's doing what he's doing. It's fun to watch."

Jon Jay had three hits with an RBI and finished a home run shy of the cycle as the Cubs extended their NL Central lead to 1 1/2 games over idle St. Louis. Jose Quintana (3-2) allowed two runs, one earned, and four hits in five innings to snap a three-start winless stretch.

Chicago has 25 wins in its last 32 games against the Reds. The Cubs have swept the last two series at Wrigley Field between the teams going back to last season, and won 11 of the past 13 meetings there the last two years.

Scooter Gennett hit a two-run homer, his 20th, in the eighth for the Reds, who have five players with at least 20 home runs to tie a club record. Gennett also mopped up on the mound after beginning the game at second base.

Cincinnati catcher Devin Mesoraco broke his left foot when he was hit by a pitch in the second.

Joey Votto went 3 for 5 to set a Cincinnati mark by reaching base at least twice in 19 consecutive games. It's the longest streak in the majors since Barry Bonds did it in 20 straight in 2004.

"We had a lot of guys on base today; both teams did," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "They were able to take advantage of it a bit more."

Reds starter Asher Wojciehowski (3-2) appeared to settle down after a rough first inning, but couldn't get the final out in the fourth.

With Jason Heyward at first and two outs, Jay tripled into the right-field corner to give Chicago a 3-2 lead. Tommy La Stella followed with an RBI single to make it 4-2. Bryant then cracked a two-run homer and Rizzo followed with a solo shot for a 7-2 edge.

The Cubs scored six times in the seventh -- highlighted by reliever Mike Montgomery's two-run double and Rizzo's two-run single -- to make it 12-2.

After the Reds scored three times in the eighth, Javier Baez hit a two-run homer off Gennett in the bottom of the inning.

The game marked the beginning of a stretch of 24 straight for the Cubs against teams currently with losing records.

Monday, August 14 Scoreboard

Cleveland 7, Boston 3

New York Yankees 4, New York Mets 2

Toronto 2, Tampa Bay 1

Miami 8, San Francisco 3

Texas 6, Detroit 2

Chicago Cubs 15, Cincinnati 5

Colorado 3, Atlanta 0

Arizona 2, Houston 0

Kansas City 6, Oakland 2

Baltimore 11, Seattle 3

San Diego 7, Philadelphia 4


Tuesday, August 15 Schedule (All Times Central)

Houston at Arizona, 2:40 p.m.

New York Mets at New York Yankees, 6:05 p.m.

Los Angeles Angels at Washington, 6:05 p.m.

Tampa Bay at Toronto, 6:07 p.m.

St. Louis at Boston, 6:10 p.m.

San Francisco at Miami, 6:10 p.m.

Pittsburgh at Milwaukee, 6:40 p.m.

Detroit at Texas, 7:05 p.m.

Cincinnati at Chicago Cubs, 7:05 p.m.

Cleveland at Minnesota, 7:10 p.m.

Atlanta at Colorado, 7:40 p.m.

Kansas City at Oakland, 9:05 p.m.

Baltimore at Seattle, 9:10 p.m.

Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles Dodgers, 9:10 p.m.

Philadelphia at San Diego, 9:10 p.m.