The Cincinnati Reds erased a one-run deficit and pulled away for a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday, September 18, 2026 at Great American Ball Park. A five-pitcher bullpen effort kept the Cubs in check after a shaky start from Chase Burns, while Clay Holmes imploded for six earned runs in 5.1 innings to hand Cincinnati the win. In a division matchup with late-season stakes, the Reds showed enough resilience to get the job done — and it was Julian Aguiar who earned the victory for his efforts in the middle innings.

Reds Bullpen Holds the Fort After Burns Struggles Early

Chase Burns did not have his best stuff Friday night. The right-hander surrendered four hits and two walks in just three innings, allowing two earned runs before being lifted. That left Cincinnati in a hole, and the bullpen needed to answer.

Answer it did. Julian Aguiar took over and worked three full innings, striking out two. He did surrender four hits and two earned runs of his own, but he kept the game within reach long enough for the offense to take control. Aguiar picked up the win.

From there, the back end of the Cincinnati bullpen was dominant:

  • Brock Burke: 1.0 IP, 1 K, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB
  • Tejay Antone: 1.0 IP, 1 K, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB
  • Emilio Pagán: 1.0 IP, 1 K, 0 ER, 0 H, 1 BB — save

Burke, Antone, and Pagán combined for three scoreless innings to finish off Chicago. Pagán earned the save, retiring the Cubs in order aside from one walk in the ninth.

Clay Holmes Unravels, Opening the Door for Cincinnati's Offense

The Cubs handed the ball to Clay Holmes, and he never found a groove. Holmes allowed six earned runs on three hits and five walks across 5.1 innings — the walk total proved especially damaging, as Cincinnati turned free passes into runs. Holmes struck out four but couldn't keep the Reds off the board, and he took the loss.

Javier Assad and Jacob Webb cleaned up behind Holmes, keeping the deficit at two over the final 2.2 innings. Webb was particularly sharp, striking out two in a clean inning of work. But the damage was already done.

Elly De La Cruz Contributes at the Top; Cubs' Bats Stay Busy But Not Enough

Elly De La Cruz went 2-for-2 for the Reds, providing a spark at the top of Cincinnati's lineup. The box score highlights are limited, but De La Cruz's on-base presence contributed to a Cincinnati offense that made Holmes work all night.

For Chicago, Michael Conforto was the most productive hitter, going 3-for-4. Carson Kelly added two hits and drove in a run, while Ian Happ supplied the Cubs' lone home run, a solo shot that accounted for one of Chicago's four runs. It wasn't enough against a Reds offense that built its lead methodically and protected it with shutdown bullpen work.

Turning Point: A Five-Walk Night From Holmes Opens the Floodgates

The turning point in this game was Holmes's command — or the lack of it. Five walks over 5.1 innings gave the Reds extended at-bats and extra baserunners that Cincinnati's lineup converted into a 6-run output. When a starting pitcher issues that many free passes, his defense never gets a chance to help him, and the scoreboard catches up fast. That's exactly what happened Friday night at Great American Ball Park.

What's Next for the Cincinnati Reds

The Reds and Cubs continue their series, with Cincinnati holding a win in the opener. This is a division matchup, and every game carries weight in the standings. The rotation and lineup decisions for the rest of the series will be worth monitoring as Cincinnati looks to build on Friday's comeback win.