CHICAGO -- With Andrew Abbott on the mound Wednesday at Wrigley Field, odds certainly seemed to favor the Reds’ ability to complete a pivotal sweep over the Cubs.
Cincinnati had just grinded out two hard-fought wins, and was now turning to an All-Star southpaw who'd already faced Chicago twice earlier this season, holding the club to just one earned run over 12 2/3 innings in back-to-back May starts. It seemed like a perfect recipe to secure another key victory in a tight NL Wild Card race.
Unfortunately, Abbott's trademark command seemed to be missing right from the get-go. The lefty frequently fell behind early in counts, and while he was still able to give the Reds 6 2/3 innings, key mistakes and a lack of run support ultimately dashed their hopes for a sweep during a 6-1 loss.
“I just didn’t get ahead of guys, and I didn’t execute with two strikes,” Abbott said. “The stat line doesn’t really reflect how I felt during the game, how I was able to go deep in the game. I’ve just got to be more aggressive in the strike zone, execute a little better.”
It didn’t take long to realize the Abbott who took the mound Wednesday wasn’t the same one the Cubs saw at Wrigley Field on May 30. Back then, the left-hander blanked Chicago over seven frames, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out eight.
Abbott matched those totals within the first three hitters he faced on Wednesday. He walked leadoff hitter Nico Hoerner on five pitches, then allowed a 109.4 mph single from Seiya Suzuki two batters later.
Though he was able to eliminate the threat, the inning was a sign of things to come for the 26-year-old. While Cubs hitters whiffed at Abbott’s changeup and curve on May 30, he quickly realized they were less inclined to do the same on Wednesday.
“They were just laying off pitches out of the zone,” Abbott said. “The last time I pitched here, they were chasing a little more. But I also didn’t give them a reason to [Wednesday]. I wasn’t in the zone early enough or often enough for them to chase pitches either way. I think that’s probably the biggest difference between the last game here and this one.”
Abbott allowed three baserunners over the next two frames, with Chicago scratching across the game’s opening run on a sacrifice fly that initially looked like trouble were it not for a diving catch from Jake Fraley. Though Abbott settled down in the fourth and fifth, a sweeper he hung over the plate to Suzuki was scorched over the left-field wall for a leadoff homer in the sixth.
Dansby Swanson led off the next frame with a blast of his own, and by the time Justin Turner doubled three batters later, Abbott’s day came to a close.
Still, even in an outing where he lacked his best stuff, Abbott’s ability to provide the Reds length wasn’t lost on his manager.
“I didn’t think he had his best command, especially early,” Terry Francona said. “Saying that, you look up [after Abbott exited] and he’s 6 2/3 [innings] and had given up three. He just competes.”
Abbott allowed four runs on the day, which was just the fourth time in 20 starts this year that he gave up more than two earned. That such an outing represents a bad day for him only further cements how well he’s been pitching in 2025.
Still, those four runs proved to be enough for Chicago, as rookie righty Cade Horton completely shut down Cincinnati’s offense over 5 2/3 dominant frames. He allowed just two hits while running his scoreless-innings streak up to 23 1/3 frames. Even Cubs reliever Andrew Kittredge, whom the Reds pounced on Tuesday night during a four-run seventh, rebounded to throw the 120th immaculate inning in MLB history Wednesday afternoon.
Though the Reds would’ve welcomed a sweep as they continue to chase their first playoff berth since 2020, they know a series victory is crucial amid a daunting second-half schedule.
They also know they have a pitcher who, regardless of how much trouble he runs into, will still do whatever he can to provide a productive day on the mound.
“It sounds cliché to say, but you’ve just got to compete,” Abbott said. “You know your stuff’s not pristine, it’s not normally what you want it to be. But it’s not an excuse for going out and diving early after five innings. Just put your head down and work.”