Nick Lodolo exits early due to a blister but the Cincinnati Reds rally behind TJ Friedl’s clutch RBI single to edge the Chicago Cubs 3‑2 at Wrigley Field in a key Reds vs Cubs matchup.
⚾ Reds vs Cubs Background
- The Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 3–2 at Wrigley Field in Game 1 of their key NL Central series on August 4, 2025. TJ Friedl delivered a tiebreaking RBI single in the seventh inning to lift the Reds past the Cubs. Both starting pitchers Nick Lodolo (Reds) and debut starter Michael Soroka (Cubs) exited early with injuries.
- Lodolo left with a blister on his left index finger after retiring five batters raising concerns he may land on the injured list he has dealt with this issue before.
📝 Game Recap: Reds vs Cubs – August 4, 2025
Early innings
- Dansby Swanson put the Cubs ahead 2–1 in the third inning with a two-run homer including an RBI from Ian Happ.
- Tyler Stephenson responded in the second with a solo shot for Cincinnati before Swanson’s blast in the third.
Pitcher injuries
- Lodolo retired his first five batters before a blister forced him out in the second inning his career high innings streak threatened.
- Soroka exited in the second inning with shoulder discomfort on his MLB Cubs debut pitching on his 28th birthday.
Reds rally & walk-off winner
- Elly De La Cruz tied it in the sixth with an RBI double aided by a misplay in leftfield.
- In the seventh TJ Friedl hit a two‑out bloop RBI single to center off Caleb Thielbar scoring Jake Fraley and giving the Reds a 3‑2 lead.
Bullpen resilience
- Cincinnati’s bullpen combined for 7 ⅓ innings in relief of Lodolo allowing two earned runs and including Scott Barlow earning the win and Emilio Pagán closing for his 24th save.
Game Won… #ATOBTTR!
FINAL: Reds 3, Cubs 2!
Celebrate at your neighborhood @Skyline_Chili! pic.twitter.com/gZySaxeFsE
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) August 5, 2025
🌟 Spotlight: Nick Lodolo & Key Contributors
Nick Lodolo – strong season, sudden setback
- Lodolo entered the game 8–6 with a 3.05 ERA over 129⅔ innings. He’d been reliable recently but exited early due to the blister a recurring issue that cost him time last year as well.
- Manager Terry Francona emphasized caution given the blister’s history and potential to worsen.
Friedl & De La Cruz deliver
- TJ Friedl’s clutch single in the 7th turned the tide the decisive moment of the game.
- Elly De La Cruz sparked the Reds comeback with a key RBI double in the sixth inning to tie the game before Friedl’s hit.
📊 Reds vs Cubs Division Context & Outlook
- The Reds entered at 59‑54 just behind the Padres and Mets in the Wild Card chase. This win lifts them over .500 and reinvigorates their divisional hopes.
- Chicago dropped to 65‑47 three games back in the NL Central and hoping to bounce back with home advantage and stronger pitching rotation depth.
⚙️ Tactical Insights & Analysis
Pitching & bullpen strategy
- Reds overcame early loss of Lodolo thanks to depth Nick Martinez, Barlow, Pagán and others combined to shut down Cubs offense late.
- Cubs rely on bullpen to steady ship after Soroka’s exit but limited hitting and replay reversal hurt their chances.
Replay reversal moment
- A controversial call: Swanson appeared to tie it in the seventh but replay review overturned it after showing he missed first base ending the inning instead of baseball chaos.
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