Alexis Diaz allows four runs in Reds’ loss to Cubs

Cincinnati- Ian Happ collected four RBIs, while Mike Tauchman and Cody Bellinger drove in three each to help the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds, 15-7. The Cubs and Reds split the crucial four-game series between the two rival divisional contenders.

Nick Madrigal and Tauchman each drove in two runs with the bases loaded against the Reds’ Puerto Rican closer, Alexis Diaz, in the Cubs’ seven-run cluster in the eighth inning. Bellinger brought in one more with a sacrifice fly, and a double by Dansby Swanson drove in two more before the Reds could get out of the awkward inning.

The Cubs had 18 hits, and scored three more in the ninth, including a solo home run by Jeimer Candelario.

Reliever Daniel Palencia (5-0) got the win for the Cubs. Derek Law (4-5), who allowed three runs without being able to get an out in the eighth, took the loss.

Chicago moved three games ahead of Cincinnati in the NL Central and is currently in second place in the old circuit’s wild card.

For the Cubs, Panamanian Miguel Amaya was 0-for-2 with one run scored.

For the Reds, the Dominicans Elly de la Cruz 5-0, Noelvi Marte 4-1 with an RBI