The Cincinnati Reds erased a two-run deficit and beat the Chicago Cubs 7-5 on Sunday, August 30, 2026, at Wrigley Field to take the series victory in NL Central division play. Tyler Stephenson went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, Héctor Rodríguez delivered a home run with three RBI, and Chase Burns earned the win after striking out seven across 5.2 innings. The Reds turned a losing situation into a statement, outscoring the Cubs by four runs after falling behind early, and left Chicago with a result that matters in the division standings.

Reds Offense Breaks Through Against Imanaga, Cubs Bullpen

Shota Imanaga had trouble keeping Cincinnati's lineup in check. The Cubs left-hander allowed six earned runs on eight hits over five innings, walking one and striking out four. The Reds battered him early and often enough that Chicago burned through its bullpen trying to hold the lead.

Rodríguez was the most damaging bat of the night. The Reds outfielder went 1-for-4 but made his one hit count in the biggest way possible, launching a home run that drove in three runs. That kind of production in a two-run comeback game is the difference-maker, and Rodríguez delivered it.

Stephenson added a home run and two RBI of his own, going 2-for-5 and providing the veteran presence behind the plate and in the box that Cincinnati needed. Sal Stewart contributed a home run and an RBI as well, going 2-for-5, giving the Reds three players with long balls in the same road win.

  • Héctor Rodríguez: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI
  • Tyler Stephenson: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Sal Stewart: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Elly De La Cruz: 2-for-4
  • Dane Myers: 1-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI

Chase Burns Earns the Win; Bullpen Closes It Out

Burns did not have a clean outing but did enough to get the decision. He went 5.2 innings, allowed six hits and two earned runs, walked one, and punched out seven. It was a quality-adjacent start — not dominant, but effective enough to keep Cincinnati in the game while the offense caught fire behind him.

Brock Burke followed and handled 1.1 innings without allowing an earned run, striking out two. Luis Mey gave up one earned run in his inning of work. Emilio Pagán closed it out in the ninth, surrendering one hit and one earned run but getting the final outs to secure the save and the 7-5 final.

Turning Point: Cincinnati's Comeback Completes in the Late Innings

The Cubs had the early advantage and Pete Crow-Armstrong made sure Chicago felt dangerous throughout — the center fielder went 2-for-5 with two home runs and two RBI, giving Cubs fans plenty to feel good about. Nico Hoerner added two hits and an RBI, and Ian Happ went 2-for-3. Chicago's lineup produced, but it wasn't enough once Cincinnati's middle of the order got going.

The Reds overcome the two-run deficit and did not look back. Once Rodríguez's three-run shot changed the math, the Cubs were chasing, and Chicago's bullpen could not hold the line. Trent Thornton allowed one earned run in his inning for the Cubs, and Aaron Civale and Jacob Webb kept it scoreless late, but the damage was already done.

What's Next for the Reds

Cincinnati heads into the final stretch of the 2026 regular season with a road win over a division rival in hand. The Reds will continue their schedule looking to build on this result. Keep an eye on whether Stephenson, Rodríguez, and the rest of this lineup can sustain the kind of production that turned a deficit into a win on Sunday in Chicago.