The Chicago Cubs are absolutely on fire, and their latest victory proves they're a force to be reckoned with. On Thursday, the Cubs dominated the Cincinnati Reds with an 8-3 win, extending their winning streak to an impressive nine games. This victory also capped off a four-game sweep of the Reds at Wrigley Field, where the Cubs have now won 15 straight home games—their longest home winning streak since 1935.
Michael Conforto was the star of the show, going 3 for 3 with a home run and two RBIs. He got things started in the bottom of the second inning, launching his second homer of the season off Reds starter Rhett Lowder. Conforto also made a highlight-reel catch in the fifth, slamming into the wall to end the inning with two runners on base.
On the mound, Shota Imanaga was in top form. The 32-year-old left-hander pitched six innings of one-run ball, allowing just four hits and three walks while striking out 10. This marked his fifth career double-digit strikeout game, and he extended his scoreless streak to 12 innings before Sal Stewart took him deep for a solo homer in the sixth.
The game's decisive moment came in the fourth inning, when the Cubs exploded for seven runs—their highest-scoring inning of the season. Reds starter Rhett Lowder was forced to leave the game during that inning with what the team described as right shoulder tightness. Reliever Connor Phillips came in but couldn't stop the bleeding, allowing both inherited runners to score as Chicago took control.
Ian Happ also made his mark, drawing a walk in the fourth inning to extend his on-base streak to 28 games—the second-longest active streak in Major League Baseball. The Cubs, now 26-12, are looking unstoppable, while the Reds (20-18) have lost seven straight.
In other MLB action, the New York Yankees continued their hot streak, winning their 16th game in 19 tries with a comeback victory over the Texas Rangers. Trent Grisham delivered a go-ahead, three-run double in a six-run sixth inning, while the Rangers struggled with the sun, misplaying four balls in the outfield. However, the win was bittersweet for the Yankees, as left fielder Jasson Domínguez was taken off the field in a cart after crashing into the wall while making a catch. He was placed in concussion protocol and scheduled for an MRI on his left shoulder.