Off to their best start in 18 years, the Cincinnati Reds aren't showing any signs of slowing down against a Chicago Cubs team they've dominated in recent years.
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Dusty Baker doesn't like the suicide squeeze bunt - too many things can go wrong. The way things are going for the Cincinnati Reds these days, he needn't worry.
CINCINNATI -- Reds manager Dusty Baker isn't a big fan of the squeeze bunt. "I ain't crazy about it," he says.
CINCINNATI -- Brandon Phillips scored the go-ahead run on Derrick Robinson's squeeze bunt in the sixth inning, and Homer Bailey pitched well for six innings as Cincinnati again rallied from behind, beating the Chicago Cubs 5-2 before a sold-out crowd of 40,909 on Saturday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
After a frustrating Saturday evening loss to the Cincinnati Reds, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo remains unsatisfied with his performance saying, "I don't know what more pressure I can put on myself."
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Anibal Sanchez's bid for his second career no-hitter fell just two outs short on Friday night. After retiring Jamey Carroll on a somewhat questionable strike three call to begin the ninth inning, Minnesota Twins star Joe Mauer laced a 1-1 pitch right back up the middle for a clean single, which keeps Sanchez from joining Justin Verlander, Mark Buehrle and Roy Halladay as the only active pitchers with multiple no-hitters. At least temporarily. The way he's throwing this season, another bid is probably around the corner.
''It's not that I go to the mound and want to do something special, it's just that I want to go nine innings, go deeper, get a good command, get a good game,'' Sanchez said. ''When I come to the eighth inning, I think about it. But when I come to the ninth inning, it's really tough with those guys.''
Much like his Friday night start back on April 26 when he struck out 17 Atlanta Braves, Sanchez had everything working against Minnesota. That was especially true during a stretch from the second inning to the seventh inning where he retired 18 straight batters. He ended up going the distance for his fourth career one-hitter , striking out 12. The outing required 130 pitches, which is sure to make a few fans uneasy, but he's been no worse for the wear after throwing 122 in the April start.
As for how Mauer felt about his latest history-breaking hit, which by the way is his third career ninth inning knock to break up a no-no attempt.
''He's nasty, and he had everything working tonight,'' Mauer said. ''Obviously, you know exactly what is happening, and you don't want to get no-hit. I'm just up there trying to put the bat on the ball. He threw me a really good cutter and I was just able to square it up.''