CHICAGO – It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out a season high in walks typically bodes poorly for a pitching staff.
Those “walks will haunt” graphics on the videoboard are indeed truthful and the Cincinnati Reds learned that lesson the hard way in a 9-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs in their series opener at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.
Reds pitchers walked a season-high 11 batters, plus hit one batter. It was the team’s most walks in a game since Aug. 8, 2018, in an eight-run loss to the New York Mets. Combined with nine hits, Reds pitchers allowed 20 baserunners.