The Cincinnati Reds' offense erupted in the seventh inning to break open a tight game, powering their way to a decisive 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. After six innings of a pitcher's duel between Zack Littell and Shota Imanaga—both cruising with just one run allowed—the Reds' bats awakened against Cubs reliever Andrew Kittredge. Spencer Steer delivered the knockout blow with a towering three-run homer, his 4 RBI on the night proving pivotal. Miguel Andújar and TJ Friedl each chipped in with multi-hit performances, while Littell dominated on the mound, striking out eight over seven sharp innings while surrendering just three hits.

The Cubs' lone bright spot came from rookie Matt Shaw, whose solo homer in the third briefly tied the game, but Chicago's bullpen unraveled in the late innings. The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Cubs, who now face questions about their relief corps after Kittredge's rough outing. For Cincinnati, the win keeps their playoff push alive, showcasing the depth of their lineup even on a night when stars like Elly De La Cruz went hitless. With Littell anchoring the rotation and Steer heating up, the Reds are building momentum at the right time.