Sizzling Aquino, Reds eye third straight W vs. Cubs
Rookie Aristides Aquino is etching his name in the record books at a remarkably fast clip during his brief time in the majors.
Aquino aims to provide an encore to Saturday's three-homer performance on Sunday afternoon when the Cincinnati Reds host the Chicago Cubs in the finale of their four-game series.
The 25-year-old Aquino went deep in his first three at-bats in Saturday's 10-1 win to match Colorado's Trevor Story for the most homers in a player's first 10 games with seven.
Aquino is a robust 13-for-22 with 13 RBI and 10 runs scored during his seven-game hitting streak.
"First of all, the main thing is I'm not focused on my numbers," Aquino said through an interpreter. "I don't think about what I've done. The thing is to go out and win as many games."
Cincinnati has been doing that, to the tune of 10 wins in its last 14 contests, to move within six games of National League Central-leading Chicago.
Aquino has homered in four consecutive games to match Eric Davis' franchise rookie record, set in 1984.
"We're so happy for him," Reds manager David Bell said of Aquino. "Not only is he hitting home runs, but he's doing it in really meaningful games. These games are so important to us as a team, and he's coming through like that."
The Cubs erupted for 12 runs on 19 hits in the series opener but combined for three and 12, respectively, in the last two games.
Chicago, which has lost 24 of its last 34 road contests, likely will not return to donning its home-white jerseys for the series finale.
"They served a purpose for one night," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said, referring to the team's 12-5 victory on Thursday. "If we could bookend (wins in the series), I'll take that."
Chicago will turn to left-hander Jon Lester (9-8, 4.39 ERA) in a bid to do precisely that.
Lester fell to 0-2 in his last four starts in horrific fashion on Tuesday, allowing a career-high-tying 11 runs (nine earned) on 10 hits in four innings of an 11-4 shellacking against Oakland.
The 35-year-old dropped to 7-2 with a 3.93 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 17 career starts versus Cincinnati after permitting four runs on five hits in 5 2/3 frames of an 8-6 setback on June 30. Lester has struggled greatly against both Jose Peraza (12-for-31) and Eugenio Suarez (12-for-37, four homers, 10 RBI).
Cincinnati right-hander Luis Castillo (11-4, 2.63) will bid for his third straight win when he gets the nod in the series finale.
Castillo yielded two runs on three hits in seven innings of a 7-4 victory versus the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.
The 26-year-old has won two of three decisions against Chicago this season to improve to 4-2 with a 3.49 ERA in nine career starts versus the Cubs.
Ohio native Kyle Schwarber, who belted a solo blast in the ninth inning on Saturday, is 5-for-14 with three home runs and two doubles against Castillo.
--Field Level Media
