Cubs 2, Reds 0: A good old-fashioned pitchers’ duel

And Ben Brown was magnificent.

So maybe this idea of having an opener for Ben Brown’s turn in the rotation is… pretty good?

Drew Pomeranz threw a 1-2-3 first inning on only nine pitches and then Brown shut the door on the Reds. He threw six one-hit innings, striking out nine and issuing only one walk, by far his best outing of 2025.

The Cubs then got shutdown late-inning relief from Brad Keller and Daniel Palencia, and just enough offense to defeat the Reds on a one-hit shutout, 2-0, in front of a full Wrigley Field on a chilly Saturday afternoon.

While Brown was mowing down Reds hitters, the Cubs did have several chances to score. Ian Happ led off the bottom of the first with a double and Kyle Tucker was hit by a pitch. But Seiya Suzuki popped up and Carson Kelly hit into a double play.

In the second, Nico Hoerner blooped a ball into short center that he tried to stretch into a double. He was thrown out at second to end the inning.

Again in the fourth, the Cubs got a runner to second. Tucker led off with a single and stole second, his 16th steal without being caught. But the next two Cubs were routine outs. Pete Crow-Armstrong walked, but Dansby Swanson struck out to end the inning.

Happ hit his second double of the game leading off the sixth, and one out later Suzuki walked. But Kelly hit into another double play and that was that.

So give some credit to Nick Lodolo, who threw six shutout innings, allowing five Cubs hits.

PCA walked leading off the seventh. And yes, my friends, that is the first time PCA has walked twice in a MLB game — this was his 194th game in the majors. He stole second, but the next three Cubs struck out.

Brown was removed after the seventh having thrown 77 pitches (52 strikes). Here are his nine strikeouts [VIDEO].

And more on Brown’s outstanding outing [VIDEO].

What a boost for his confidence, and as I said… if having an opener for him can help him have games like this, by all means, do it every single time.

About Brown’s six scoreless innings as a reliever, from BCB’s JohnW53:

Cubs pitchers since 1901 who threw at least six shutout innings in relief before Ben Brown today:

John Menefee, 1902: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 SO
Chick Fraser, 1908: 8⅔ IP, 5 H, 5 BB, 2 SO
Dutch Ruether, 1917: 7.IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 SO
Cal Koonce, 1964: 8 IP, 7 H, 2 BB, 7 SO
Oscar Zamora May 11, 1976: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 BB, 1 SO

And about Brown allowing only one hit in those six shutout innings, from JohnW53:

Jon Lester gave up no runs on one hit in seven innings of games in June 2018 and May 2019. Brown today became the 10th different Cub since then to work at least six scoreless innings and allow one or no hits.

The previous nine, in order: Alec Mills (2020, no-hitter), Zach Davies (2021, 6 IP, one hit), Wade Miley (2022, 7 IP, one hit), Drew Smily (2023, 7⅔ IP, one hit), Marcus Stroman (2023, 9 IP, one hit), Kyle Hendricks (2023, 8 IP, one hit), Jameson Taillon (2023, 8 IP, one hit), Hayden Wesneski (2024, 6⅓ IP, one hit) and Shota Imanaga (2024, 7 IP, no hits).

After Keller threw a 1-2-3 eighth on just seven pitches, the Cubs offense finally broke through against Graham Ashcraft in the bottom of the inning. Matt Shaw led off with a walk, but was forced at second on a ground ball by Happ. Tucker blooped a single to left, with Happ taking second.

Suzuki broke the scoreless tie with this double [VIDEO].

It’s hard to tell from that clip and even at the ballpark, where I’m seated directly opposite that area, it was hard to see if it was fair — but fair it was, and Happ scored to make it 1-0.

Runners are now on second and third with one out. Kelly, at the plate hoping to redeem himself from hitting into two double plays, walked to load the bases.

That brought up PCA, who fouled off several pitches before popping up.

Swanson, also hoping for redemption after striking out three times, got it by beating out this infield grounder [VIDEO].

Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz double-clutched the ball and that gave Swanson just enough time to be safe. Tucker scored to make it 2-0. The bases remained loaded, but Hoerner grounded out to end the inning. Still, the two-run eighth inning added more to this incredible number:

Palencia, who has begun to become a very reliable closer, entered the game to throw the ninth inning. He got Matt McLain on a routine fly to center.

The next hitter, TJ Friedl, hit a totally not-routine line drive to center, but these are balls we have become used to PCA making plays on.

And he did exactly that with this spectacular diving grab [VIDEO].

That set up Palencia for this game-ending strikeout — at 101 miles per hour [VIDEO].

Great pitching, timely hitting, solid defense on a very cool day with the wind blowing in. What’s not to like? And so…

Here are some postgame comments from Drew Pomeranz, with the Marquee crew sporting the Dansby Swanson “Flow” Headband that was Saturday’s ballpark giveaway [VIDEO].

The Cubs thus finish May with an 18-9 record, their most wins in May since they were 19-8 in 2021, and their first 18-win month since last August.

The Cubs will go for the series win Sunday afternoon, when we have been assured it will be somewhat warmer, and it ought to be, considering June begins on Sunday. Jameson Taillon will start for the Cubs and Nick Martinez gets the call for the Reds. Game time is again 1:20 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Marquee Sports Network.