Chicago Cubs unable to hold late lead, drop first series to Reds

For the first time this season, the Cincinnati Reds managed to claim a series win over the first-place Chicago Cubs. After driving in a bunch of runs against the Reds this season, they could only drive in three during the series finale.

Aside from today’s loss at the hands of the Reds (32-54), veteran right-hander Adam Warren had himself a fantastic day on the mound for Joe Maddon and the Cubs (52-32) before Trevor Cahill took over in the sixth.

Warren (3-1, 4.11 ERA) held Cincinnati to one earned run on one home run, three hits, and six strikeouts in five innings of work. He made a spot start for the Cubs after spending time with the Triple-A Iowa affiliate in order to get himself ready.

The big blow off Warren came during the top of the first inning when Zack Cozart launched his 14th home run of the season out to center field to lead off the game.

More from Chicago Cubs News

• Cubs starting pitching has been thriving on the North Side
• Make no mistake: the Cubs are very much about power hitters
• Cubs: It’s time to start thinking about potential September call-ups
• Cubs: P.J. Higgins deserves to be in the lineup on a daily basis
• Cubs might start to limit Justin Steele’s workload soon

Cincinnati wouldn’t hold the lead long as the Cubs jumped ahead by two runs thanks to an RBI double off the bat of Addison Russell (11 on the year) and a single to right field off the bat of Miguel Montero that scored Russell from second.

Shortly after the Chicago Cubs grabbed the 2-1 advantage, second baseman Ben Zobrist hammered his 12th big fly to right field off starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani in the fifth, making it a 3-1 ballgame.

Both Russell and Zobrist were named starters for the 2016 National League All-Star team and are two of seven Cubs who will represent the organization on July 12th in San Diego at Petco Park.

Things were looking great for the North Siders until Cahill slipped in the seventh. Brandon Phillips and Jose Peraza strung together a pair of hits with one out only to trot around the bases on a Tucker Barnhart three-run homer that landed in the basket out in center field.

Next: Cubs need to play better baseball

Peraza scored for the second time of the afternoon on a wild pitch by young right-handed reliever Carl Edwards Jr. in the eighth which extended Cincinnati’s lead by two.

The Cubs were unable to respond despite Anthony Rizzo working a lead-off walk in the home half of the same frame. They now hold the second-best record in the league and are 20 wins over .500 while the Texas Rangers are 21 over.