Bauer outduels Darvish as Reds blank Cubs 3-0

CHICAGO (AP) — Trevor Bauer tossed three-hit ball into the eighth inning to outpitch Chicago Cubs ace Yu Darvish and lift the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-0 victory Wednesday night.

Mike Moustakas hit a three-run homer in the first inning as Darvish's seven-start winning streak was snapped.

Bauer (4-3) struck out 10 and walked none in 7 2/3 innings while tying his season high with 112 pitches. The right-hander had dropped his three previous starts, including a 3-0 loss to the Cubs and Darvish on Aug. 29 in Cincinnati.

Bauer had allowed just one hit — a leadoff single in the fifth by by Victor Caratini — through seven innings. In the eighth, Bauer gave up a one-out single to Jason Heyward and then was pulled after Ildemaro Vargas singled with two outs to put runners on the corners.

Right-hander Lucas Sims came on to get Ian Happ to line out to second to end the threat.

Raisel Iglesias got three outs for his sixth save.

Darvish (7-2) allowed three runs and two hits in six innings, walking three and striking out nine. All three runs and both hits came in the first inning. After that, the right-hander retired 16 of the final 17 batters he faced. The only blemish was a two-out walk to Brian Goodwin in the fourth inning.

Darvish had allowed only five runs in 46 innings (an 0.98 ERA) during the winning streak. He entered leading the NL with a 1.44 ERA.

Darvish had walked a total of eight batters during the previous seven starts — compared with 58 strikeouts — but issued back-to-back one-out walks in the first. One out later, Moustakas took advantage of a hanging breaking ball for a three-run drive.

HEYWARD RETURNS

Heyward returned to the Cubs' lineup after experiencing shortness of breath and light-headedness in Sunday's game against St. Louis. The veteran outfielder...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Bauer-outduels-Darvish-as-Reds-blank-Cubs-3-0-15555663.php