4/21 Morning Marquee: Still hope for Cubs’ Veras, Gomez ejected

Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Cubs failed to capture their first series win as the Reds put on a clinic for situational hitting with two-outs in a 8-2 win.

Carlos Villanueva gave up five earned runs and Jose Veras gave up three more no two home runs in the seventh. Cubs’ manager Rick Renteria will stick with Villanueva until Jake Arrieta returns from his rehab stint and believes there is still hope for Veras.

The Cubs start a four-game series at Wrigley Field with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Monday night at 7:05 p.m. CST with Travis Wood on the mound.

Around the league; the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates had a benches clearing brawl after Pirates’ pitcher Gerrit Cole had some choice words for Carlos Gomez, Yankees’ starter Ivan Nova was placed on the DL with a partially torn UCL, and the Twins claimed ex-Cub Sam Fuld off waivers.

Chicago Tribune: Cubs’ Rick Renteria not giving up on Jose Veras

Chicago Sun-Times: Emilio Bonifacio could give Cubs another trade chip

Daily Herald: Here’s how baseball can speed up the game

ESPN Chicago: Arrieta’s return will give more meaning

CSN Chicago: Villanueva, Cubs not hanging head after ‘strange’ start to 2014

NBC Sports: Benches clear in Pittsburgh after the Brewers’ Carlos Gomez bat flips a third-inning triple

CBS Sports: Ivan Nova hits disabled list with partially torn UCL

MLB Trade Rumors: Twins claim OF Fuld off waivers, designate Mastroianni

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