Chicago Cubs Beat Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Bregman Home Run

The Chicago Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on July 11, 2026, with Alex Bregman hitting a tiebreaking two-run home run in the seventh inning. Carson Kelly added a solo home run for Chicago, which has now won four of its last six games. Trent Thornton entered in the ninth inning and retired Sal Stewart on a grounder to second base for his third save.

Thornton has posted four straight scoreless outings while the Cubs manage without closer Daniel Palencia, who remains sidelined with right elbow inflammation and is not expected to return until later in July. Cubs manager Craig Counsell used five relievers in the game. "He's doing a heck of a job.

He's got guts; he's got big guts," Counsell said of Thornton. "At the end of the game, that last out in the ninth inning is a difficult out. " The Reds went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position despite solo home runs from Nathaniel Lowe, Eugenio Suarez and JJ Bleday.

Cincinnati has now lost five of its last eight games. "We had some really good at-bats and we drove the ball out of the ballpark," Reds manager Terry Francona said. " Left-hander Matthew Boyd is scheduled to start for the Cubs against left-hander Andrew Abbott for the Reds in the series finale on July 12.

Boyd is 4-1 with a 4.31 ERA and went six scoreless innings in his most recent outing. Abbott is 5-5 with a 3.92 ERA.