Chicago Cubs use the long ball to down the Reds, 9-5 on Tuesday

With the wind blowing out, the Chicago Cubs took advantage as the offense finally came to life in the 9-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds.

When the wind is blowing out at Wrigley Field, you never know what to expect. For the Chicago Cubs, that meant a first-inning run. The good news is the Cubs offense came to play as well. The Cubs scored three times in the first inning and never looked back en route to a 9-5 victory on Tuesday night. It was a battle of veterans as John Lackey and Bronson Arroyo squared off.

Lackey (4-3, 4.37) survived some early struggles but managed to hang on for 5 1/3 innings allowing just three runs as he picked up the win. The Cubs (19-19) were able to hold the Reds (19-19) to just one run in each inning except the seventh.

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Zack Cozart started things off quickly with a solo home run in the first inning to stake the Reds to a 1-0 lead. But for all the luck that the Reds have had in Arroyo’s (3-3, 6.31) starts, that wasn’t there tonight. The Cubs got a RBI single from Jeimer Candelario, which was then followed by a ground rule double into the ivy that would score two more.

After Tucker Barnhardt cut it to 3-2 with a solo home run in the second, Kyle Schwarber one-upped him with a home run of his own. A 462-foot blast into the right field seats. The Cubs would also get home runs from Ian Happ, Addison Russell and Anthony Rizzo as they went on to win, 9-5.

The offensive output was encouraging, even with the with blowing out. The Cubs came up with several clutch hits–something they have been unable to do this season.

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The win ties the Cubs with the Reds in the standings with two more to go in the series. Tomorrow, the Cubs will welcome back a face that should be familiar to fans. Scott Feldman (2-3, 3.59) will face off against Kyle Hendricks (2-2, 3.40) in tomorrow’s game.