The Chicago Cubs walked out of Great American Ball Park on Sunday, September 20, 2026, with a dominant 9-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, and it wasn't close. David Peterson silenced the Reds' lineup for six innings, striking out seven and allowing just one earned run on three hits. Meanwhile, starter Rhett Lowder couldn't get out of the third inning, surrendering five earned runs in 3.0 frames. For a Reds club that needed every win it could get this late in the regular season, this division loss stings.

David Peterson Shuts Down Cincinnati Offense

Peterson was the story on the mound. The lefty went six innings, walking one and scattering three hits while racking up seven strikeouts. The Reds offered almost nothing against him — their lone run came on a JJ Bleday solo home run, his only hit in three at-bats. That was Cincinnati's entire highlight reel against Peterson. He was sharp, efficient, and in command from the first pitch.

Rhett Lowder Takes the Loss After Rocky Start

Lowder's afternoon went sideways in a hurry. Over 3.0 innings, he gave up six hits, walked three batters, and allowed five earned runs before the Reds bullpen took over. That kind of start puts the offense in an impossible hole, and the Cubs made sure there was no climbing out. Lowder takes the loss.

Carson Spiers came on in relief and worked four innings, striking out five — the most impressive bullpen showing of the day for Cincinnati — but he still gave up four earned runs on five hits. Luis Mey and Graham Ashcraft each threw a clean inning, but the damage was already done long before they took the ball.

Cubs Offense Hits from Top to Bottom

Chicago's lineup was relentless. Pete Crow-Armstrong led the way with a 3-for-5 performance that included a home run and two RBI. Pedro Ramírez was equally productive, going 3-for-5 with two RBI of his own. Seiya Suzuki and Michael Conforto each homered, and Ian Happ added two hits and an RBI to round out a balanced Cubs attack that spread the damage across every lineup spot.

  • Pete Crow-Armstrong: 3-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Pedro Ramírez: 3-for-5, 2 RBI
  • Seiya Suzuki: 1-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Michael Conforto: 1-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Ian Happ: 2-for-5, 1 RBI

Turning Point: Third Inning Implosion

The game effectively ended before it truly started. With Lowder unable to work through the third inning while surrendering five runs, the Cubs built a cushion that Peterson's performance made completely unreachable. By the time the Reds' relievers steadied things, Chicago had more than enough runway. There was no single moment where Cincinnati had a realistic path back into this one.

JJ Bleday Provides the Only Bright Spot

Bleday's solo shot was the lone thing Reds fans could take home from Sunday. He went 1-for-3 with the home run and one RBI — the only extra-base hit Cincinnati managed all afternoon. In a game that went this sideways this fast, it was a small consolation.

What's Next for the Reds

The Reds will need to regroup quickly. This was a division game, and an 8-run loss to the Cubs at home with the regular season winding down is not the kind of result Cincinnati can afford to dwell on. The pitching staff will need better from its rotation going forward, and the offense has to find a way to generate more than one run against quality starting pitching. Sunday was a rough one — no sugarcoating it.