ello and welcome to another edition of 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'. This Afternoon it is the Chicago Cubs taking on Cincinnati Reds. Both teams have split the first two games of this 3-game series. And there are tensions, after yesterday's bench clearing due to Strop hitting Puig. 

This Afternoon's Starting Pitchers are left-hander Jon Lester for the Cubs. And right-hander Anthony DeSclafani for the Reds. Lester comes in with a K/BB ratio of 4.56, while averaging 4.08 P/PA. While DeSclafani comes in with a K/BB ratio of 3.35, while averaging 3.84. 

It is Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, coming up shortly. 

Starting Lineups:
Chicago Cubs:
1. Kyle Schwarber, LF
2. Kris Bryant, RF
3. Anthony Rizzo, 1B
4. Willson Contreras, C
5. Jason Heyward, CF
6. David Bote, 3B
7. Addison Russell, SS
8. Daniel Descalso, 2B
9. Jon Lester, P

Cincinnati Reds:
1. Nick Senzel, CF
2. Joey Votto, 1B
3. Eugenio Suarez, 3B
4. Yasiel Puig, RF
5. Jose Iglesias, SS
6. Phillip Ervin, LF
7. Jose Peraza, 2B
8. Anthony DeSclafani, P
9. Curt Casali, C

Hello and welcome to another edition of 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball'.  This is the first live blog of the 2018 MLB season. This Afternoon it is the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds. The Cubs are coming in 2-2, while the Reds are coming in with a record of 0-3.

The Cubs are looking for answers. As they are scoring 18 runs in the two games that they won. While only mustering 1 run in their two losses. As for the Reds, they are looking for their first win of 2018. 

This Afternoon's starting pitchers are Tyler Chatwood for the Cubs and Tyler Mahle for the Reds. Both pitchers are making their first start of 2018. Chatwood is 8-15 last year,  with a 4.69 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 1.56 K/BB, and 3.90 P/PA. While Mahle's 2017 season is 1-2, 2.70 ERA, 1.50 ERA, 1.27 K/BB, and 4.01 P/PA.  

It is the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, coming up shortly. 

Game Location: Great American Ballpark, Cincinnati, OH

Starting Lineups:
Chicago Cubs (2-2):
1. Ian Happ CF
2. Kris Bryant 3B 
3. Anthony Rizzo 1B
4. Willson Contreras C
5. Kyle Schwarber LF
6. Addison Russell SS
7. Jason Heyward RF
8. Javier Baez 2B
9. Tyler Chatwood P

SP: Tyler Chatwood (RHP) 

Cincinnati Reds (0-3):
1. Jesse Winker RF
2. Cliff Pennington SS
3. Joey Votto 1B
4. Scotter Gennett 2B
5. Eugenio Suarez 3B
6. Adam Duvall LF
7. Tucker Barnhardt C
8. Billy Hamilton CF
9. Tyler Mahle P
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SP: Tyler Mahle (RHP) 
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Cubs are in blue jerseys and caps, and gray pants . Reds are red jerseys and caps, white pants. 

Top of 1st Inning:
1. Happ
2. Bryant
3. Rizzo
Tyler Mahle now starting as the Reds Pitcher.
First Pitch is at 3:11 p.m. CDT.
Happ draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Bryant flies out to Hamilton. 1 Out.
Rizzo gets hit by a pitch. Happ advances to second. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Contreras strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Schwarber stirkes out swinging to end the Top of the 1st Inning. 3 Outs.
Cubs strand a pair of base runners. 

Middle of 1st Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 0

Bottom of 1st Inning:
Due Up:
1. Winker
2. Pennington 
3. Votto
Tyler Chatwood now starting as Cubs Pitcher. 
Winker draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Pennington draws another base on balls. Winker moves to second. Runners on 1st & 2nd.
Votto gets called out on strikes. 1 Out.
Gennett singles to right field. Winker and Pennington move 90 feet. Bases Loaded. 1 Out.
DOUBLE PLAY: Suarez grounds into 4-3 double play. Gennett is out at second. 3 Outs.
Reds strand a pair of base runners. 

End of 1st Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 0

Top of 2nd Inning:
Due Up:
6. Russell
7. Heyward
8. Baez
Mahle currently at 24 pitches. 
​Russell gets called out on strikes. 1 Out.
Scores:
Heyward gets called out on strikes. Mahle's 4th strikeout of the game. 2 Outs.
Baez triples to right field. Runner on 3rd. 2 Outs.
Chatwood gets out on strikes. 3 Outs.
Cubs leave Baez stranded at third base. 

Middle of 3rd Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 0

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
6. Duvall
7. Barnhardt 
8. Hamilton 
Chatwood currently at 19 pitches. 
​Duvall flies out to Schwarber. 1 Out.
Barnhardt singles to left field. Runner on 1st.
Hamilton draws a base on balls. Barnhardt advances to 2nd. Runners on 1st & 2nd. 1 Out.
Mahle hits into 3-4 sacrifice bunt. Barnhardt and Hamilton move 90 feet. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. 2 Outs.
Winker strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Reds left a couple of base runners stranded.

End of 2nd Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 0
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Top of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
1. Happ
2. Bryant
3. Rizzo 
Mahle currently at 43 pitches. 
Happ gets called out on strikes. 1 Out.
Bryant lines out to Winker. 2 Outs.
Rizzo lines out to Winker. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of the 3rd Inning.

Middle of 3rd Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 0

Bottom of 3rd Inning:
Due Up:
2. Pennington 
3. Votto
4. Gennett
Chatwood currently at 34 pitches. 
​Pennington grounds out to Baez. 1 Out.
Votto grounds out to Baez. 2 Outs.
Gennett grounds out to Baez. 3 Outs.
Reds go down 1-2-3, in their half of 3rd Inning.

End of 3rd Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 0

Top of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Contreras
5. Schwarber
6. Russell
Mahle currently at 53 pitches.
Scores:
Contreras grounds out to Suarez. 1 Out.
Schwarber draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st.
Russell grounds into 6-4-3 double play. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 4th Inning.

Middle of 4th Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 0

Bottom of 4th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Suarez
6. Duvall
7. Barnhardt
Chatwood currently at 51 pitches. 
​Suarez triples to center field. Runner on 3rd. 
Duval hits a RBI-Groundout to Bryant. Suarez scores. 1 Out. CHC 0, CIN 1 
Barnhardt gets called out on strikes. 2 Outs.
Hamilton bunts out to Chatwood. 3 Outs.

End of 4th Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 1

Top of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
7. Heyward
8. Baez
9. Chatwood 
Heyward flies out to Hamilton. 1 Out.
Baez grounds out to Votto, unassisted. 2 Outs.
Mahle currently at 71 pitches. 
Chatwood fouls out to Votto. 3 Outs. 
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 5th Inning.

Middle of 5th Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 1

Bottom of 5th Inning:
Due Up:
9. Mahle
1. Winker
2. Pennington 
Chatwood currently at 57 pitches. 
Mahle flies out to Heyward. 1 Out.
Winker draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st. 
Chatwood throws a wild pitch. Winker advances to second pitch. Runner on 2nd. 
Pennington draws a base on balls. Runners on 1st & 2nd. 1 Out.
Votto flies out to Schwarber. 2 Outs.
Gennett grounds out to Rizzo. Rizzo to Chatwood. 3 Outs.
Reds strand a couple of base runners. 

End of 5th Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 1

Top of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Happ
2. Bryant
3. Rizzo
Mahle currently at 75 pitches. 
​Happ gets called out on strikes. 1 Out.
Bryant grounds out to Suarez. 2 Outs.
Rizzo flies out to Duvall. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 6th Inning.

Middle of 6th Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 1

Bottom of 6th Inning:
Due Up:
5. Suarez
6. Duval
7. Barnhardt
Chatwood currently at 71 pitches. 
​Suarez draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st. 
Duval fouls out to Rizzo. 1 Out.
Barnhardt doubles to center field. Suarez advances to third. 1 Out. Runners on 2nd & 3rd. 
Hamilton reaches on a 1-2 fielder's choice. Chatwood throws out to Contreras. Barnhardt advances to third base. 2 Outs. Runners on 1st & 3rd. 
PINCH-HITTING: Phil Gosselin pinch-hitting for Tyler Mahle. 
Gosselin strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Reds leave a pair of base runners. 

End of 6th Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 1

Top of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Contreras
5. Schwarber
6. Russell
​PITCHING CHANGE: Jared Hughes (RHP) replaces Tyler Mahle as Reds Pitcher.
Contreras grounds out to Gennett. 1 Out.
Justin Wilson (LHP) warming up in Cubs Bullpen. Wandy Peralta (LHP) warming up in Reds Bullpen. 
Schwarber draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st. 
Schwarber gets caught stealing 2nd Base. 2 Outs. 
Russell grounds out to Hughes. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.

Middle of 7th Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 1

Bottom of 7th Inning:
Due Up:
1. Winker
2. Pennington 
3. Votto
​Scores:
PITCHING CHANGE: Justin Wilson (LHP) replaces Tyler Chatwood as Cubs Pitcher. 
Winker flies out to Happ. 1 Out.
Pennington strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Votto strikes out swinging. 3 Outs. 
Reds go down 1-2-3, in their half of 7th Inning.

End of 7th Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 1

Top of 8th Inning:
​Due Up:
7. Heyward
8. Baez
9. Wilson?
PITCHING CHANGE: Wandy Peralta (LHP) replaces Jared Hughes as Reds Pitcher. Peralta will bat 1st.
DEFENSIVE SUBSTITUTION: Philip Ervin replaces Jesse Winker, and will bat 9th. 
Heyward strikes out swinging. 1 Out.
Raisel Iglesias (RHP) warming up in Reds Bullpen. Pedro Strop (RHP) warming up in Cubs Bullpen. 
Baez strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
PINCH-HITTING: Ben Zobrist pinch-hitting for Justin Wilson.
Zobrist draws a base on balls. Runner on 1st. 
Happ singles to left field. Zobrist advances to second. 2 Outs. Runners on 1st & 2nd. 
PITCHING CHANGE: Raisel Iglesias (RHP) replaces Wandy Peralta as Reds Pitcher. 2 Outs. Runners on 1st & 2nd. CHC 0, CIN 1
​Bryant draws the base on balls. Zobrist and Happ move 90 feet. 2 Outs. Bases Loaded. 
Rizzo strikes out swinging. 3 Outs.
Cubs left the bases loaded stranded. 

Middle of 8th Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 1

Bottom of 8th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Gennett
5. Suarez
6. Duval
​PITCHING CHANGE: Pedro Strop (RHP) replaces Justin Wilson as Cubs Pitcher. 
DEFENSIVE SWITCH: Ben Zobrist remains in the game to play right field. Jason Heyward goes to center field, replacing Ian Happ. 
Gennett flies out to Zobrist. 1 Out.
Suarez reaches on error by Bryant. 1 Out. Runner on 1st. 
Duval gets called out on strikes. 2 Outs.
Barnhardt singles to right field. Suarez advances to 3rd. Runners on 1st & 3rd. 
Hamilton pops out to Russell. 3 Outs.
Reds left a couple of base runners stranded. 

End of 8th Inning:
CHC 0, CIN 1

Top of 9th Inning:
Due Up:
4. Contreras 
5. Schwarber
6. Russell
​Contreras flies out to Duval. 1 Out.
Iglesias currently at 13 pitches. 
Schwarber strikes out swinging. 2 Outs.
Russell grounds out to Suarez. 3 Outs.
Cubs go down 1-2-3, in their half of 9th Inning. 

Final:
CHC 0, CIN 1
CHC: (2-3)
CIN: (1-3)
W: Mahle (1-0)
L: Chatwood (0-1)
SV: Iglesias (1) 
ToG: 2:34
PoG: Suarez (CIN) 1/3, R, BB

Final Thoughts:
Cubs continue their struggles offensively. 

This is Paul Shishkoff, Jr. This has been 'Live Blogging on Shish on Baseball. Thanks for visiting this page. 
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