The Cincinnati Reds erased a two-run deficit and beat the Chicago Cubs 7-5 at Wrigley Field on Sunday, August 30, 2026, handing the Cubs a tough division loss in nine innings. Pete Crow-Armstrong was the lone offensive bright spot for Chicago, launching two home runs and driving in two runs, but it wasn't enough to overcome a shaky outing from starter Shota Imanaga, who surrendered six earned runs in five innings as Cincinnati's bats did too much damage too early in a game the Cubs couldn't fully recover from.

Imanaga Struggles as Cincinnati's Offense Does the Damage

Imanaga walked into Sunday's start and simply didn't have it. The left-hander allowed eight hits and six earned runs across five innings, striking out four while issuing just one walk. The damage came from multiple directions: Tyler Stephenson went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, Héctor Rodríguez added a home run with three RBI on a 1-for-4 day, and Sal Stewart chipped in a homer and an RBI. Dane Myers also went deep. Cincinnati sent four different hitters over the wall against Chicago's pitching, and that kind of power display on the road is a tough thing to survive.

Chase Burns made sure the Cubs couldn't mount a serious comeback. The Reds right-hander struck out seven across 5.2 innings, allowing six hits, two earned runs, and just one walk. He got the win. Emilio Pagán closed it out in the ninth, allowing one hit and one earned run but holding on for the save.

Crow-Armstrong Carries Chicago's Offense

With the Cubs trailing and looking for answers, Crow-Armstrong delivered the only consistent thunder in the lineup. He went 2-for-5 with two home runs and two RBI — a legitimate effort that kept Chicago in the conversation. Ian Happ added two hits in three at-bats, and Nico Hoerner also went 2-for-3 with an RBI. The top of the order showed up, but the Cubs couldn't string together enough to pull even with a Cincinnati lineup that kept finding the seats.

Bullpen Steadied Things Too Late

After Imanaga exited, Chicago's relievers largely held the line. Caleb Thielbar was excellent, striking out all three batters he faced in a clean inning of work. Aaron Civale struck out two in his inning. Trent Thornton allowed two hits and one earned run across his frame. Jacob Webb worked a scoreless inning. The bullpen answers came, but the six-run hole Imanaga left behind was simply too deep against a Reds club that wasn't going to hand anything back.

Turning Point: The Cincinnati Power Surge

The turning point was the accumulation of Cincinnati home runs against Imanaga. Four Reds hitters going deep in a nine-inning game against a division opponent at Wrigley isn't a fluke — it's a beatdown. By the time Chicago's offense began to respond, the deficit was too wide and Burns had already done his job on the mound.

Key Performers

Cubs

  • Pete Crow-Armstrong: 2-for-5, 2 HR, 2 RBI
  • Ian Happ: 2-for-3
  • Nico Hoerner: 2-for-3, 1 RBI
  • Caleb Thielbar: 1.0 IP, 3 K, 0 ER

Reds

  • Tyler Stephenson: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Héctor Rodríguez: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI
  • Sal Stewart: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Chase Burns (W): 5.2 IP, 7 K, 2 ER

What's Next

Chicago drops this division matchup and will look to regroup. The Cubs got contributions from their top hitters — Crow-Armstrong's two-homer day is the kind of performance you build on — but allowing four home runs to a division rival at Wrigley is not a blueprint for winning. The pitching staff needs a reset, starting with getting more out of Imanaga in his next turn through the rotation.