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The Cincinnati Reds lost 100 games for the first time in four decades with a 15-2 loss to the Cubs in the season finale.
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds lost 100 games for the first time in four decades, falling to the Cubs 15-2 in the season finale on Wednesday as David Bothe hit a season-high five home runs.
Cincinnati lost seven of its last nine games to finish 62-100, one shy of the franchise record for most losses set by the 1982 team, which went 61-101. The Reds became the fourth team with a record to lose 100 games this season, even at the bottom of the NL Central with Pittsburgh after just missing the postseason with an 83-79 record last season.
“One hundred losses, that number doesn’t change how good I feel about every single person in this room — the players, the staff,” Reds manager David Bell said. “It doesn’t change the focus and the goal for next season.”
Similarly, Chicago’s rebuild went 74-88 and third in the NL Central, down from 71-91 and fourth last season.
“It’s nice to finish with a win,” Cubs manager David Ross said. “From this seat, the sound I want to hear is a splash of champagne at some point.”
The crowd of 12,437 lifted the Reds’ attendance to 1,387,947 over 79 dates at Great American Ball Park, up from 1,775,396 over 79 dates in 2019, excluding two home games in Mexico.
This season’s attendance is Cincinnati’s lowest in a season since the 1984 team drew 1,275,887 to Riverfront Stadium and does not include the 7,823 fans who attended the Aug. 11 Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Ind. Iowa when the Reds were home.
Bothe hit a three-run homer before Chicago broke open the game with a six-run sixth, limited by Zach McKinstry’s three-run sixth.
“It wasn’t a lot of fun to be in that game,” Bell said. – It was good to return home and take two out of three. Today I had many opportunities to talk about positive things. “Guys are already talking about spring training more than any group I’ve been around.”
The Cubs have won eight of their last 10 games, including a three-game hitting streak against the Reds over the weekend.
“It was a lot of fun watching those guys play,” Chicago starter Adrian Sampson said. “I’m worried about how it ended.”
Adbert Alzolay (2-1), the first of five relievers to fill in for the injured Adrian Sampson, pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings to get the win.
Rookie right-hander Graham Ashcraft (5-6) set a season-high with five walks while falling to 0-4 against the Cubs this season. The rookie has gone 0-4 with two blown saves over his last six starts.
The Cubs sent nine batters to the plate in the sixth inning and 10 in the seventh.
Cincinnati is 76-122 after going a season-high 12 games over .500 on August 23, 2021.
Wednesday’s game was the last for Tom Hallion, who is retiring after officiating more than 3,600 games over 33 seasons. While working at first base, he gave the kid a ball during a game, then pumped his fist and talked.
Cubs: Sampson left in the third inning with strain in his right groin.
Reds: Jonathan India was left out of the original starting line-up after fouling with his left foot on Tuesday. Alejo Lopez replaced India at designated hitter.
Cubs: Open the spring training schedule Feb. 25 against San Francisco at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona.
Redskins: The 2023 spring training schedule begins Feb. 25 against Cleveland in Goodyear, Arizona.
