McCoy: Votto’s two-run double, stout pitching lead Reds past Cubs

In front of a full house (40,854) in Great American Ball Park, the Reds won a tense pitching duel, 2-1.

Joey Votto’s two-out, two-run double in the sixth inning provided the runs needed to hand the Cubs their seventh straight defeat.

Votto’s double came against left-handed relief pitcher Adam Morgan, brought specifically to retire Votto and end the inning.

“I have to perform well against them (left handers),” said Votto. It’s an expectation I have, it’s part of my job. That they bring in more left handers actually bothers me, because it is a reflection of how mediocre I’ve been against them. I need to be better.”

A week ago the Cubs were tied for first place with the Milwaukee Brewers. But the Brewers swept three games from them, sending the Cubs into their current downward spiral.

They are now 7 1/2 games behind the Brewers and only a half-game ahead of the Reds.

“We’re 41-40 through the first half of the season,” said Votto. “We have to play some really strong baseball the rest of the way. That’s not something we can’t do. We think we can do that and it’s something we’re looking forward to.”

Reds starter Sonny Gray and Cubs starter Alec Mills engaged in an early-game pitching clinic.
 Gray was making his first start after coming off the injured list, pitching five innings and gave up one run and five hits while striking out eight.

His only hiccup was in the fourth when Kris Bryant singled and Jason Heyward doubled Bryant home. Heyward was 1 for 21 for his career against Gray.

Mills, though, was even better with an assortment of soft stuff ranging between 65 miles an hour an 89 miles an hour.

For five innings the Reds had two baserunners, a hit by pitch on Votto in the second and a single by Jonathan India in the third.

Mills struck out pinch-hitter Shogo Akiyama to open the sixth. He walked India on a full count, then retired Jesse Winker on a fly ball to right for the second out.

But when Nick Castellanos singled, Cubs manager David Ross removed Mills in favor of lefty Adam Morgan to face Votto.

He did the Reds a favor. Votto pulled one into the right-field corner, scoring both India and Castellanos, the only two runs the Reds needed on this night.

The much-maligned Reds bullpen shut down the Cubs over the final four innings. Art Warren, Josh Osich, Amir Garrett, Brad Brach and Heath Hembree muzzled the Cubs on no runs and one hit and six strikeouts.

The only hit came in the ninth inning, a two-out single by Ian Happ after an eight-pitch battle with Hembree, putting the potential tying run on base. But Hembree struck out pinch-hitter Rafael Ortega to end it.

“Our bullpen … I don’t even know where to begin,” said manager David Bell. “They were above and beyond, really, tonight. We asked a lot of each guy.”

Brad Brach pitched 1 1/3 perfect inning and struck out two of the four batters he faced — two dangerous hitters in Javier Baez and Anthony Rizzo in the eighth.

“That was the key to the game right there against the middle of the order,” said Bell. “That was the heart of the order in the most important innings.

And of Votto’s game-winning hit, Bell smiled and shook his head.

“We’re used to it, but it’s still impressive, especially in certain at bats in certain matchups. He is just a great player and it is moments like that you are reminded how good he is. That was a really good pitch he hit, too.”

Votto was impressed by the large, vocal crowd.

“I try not to take them for granted, I take them in and enjoy them,” he said. “They’ve been fantastic. Kudos to the fans for their support of our All-Stars (Jesse Winker, Nick Castellanos).

“They have been fantastic this year and the fans have been equally supportive,” he added. “This is the best I’ve seen Reds fans. I mean, Reds fans have been steady, excited, supportive. They stay on us. I love that they stay on us and expect excellence.”