Graham Ashcraft, Cincinnati Reds blown out by Chicago Cubs in fourth consecutive loss

CHICAGO – As the Cincinnati Reds fade further in September with a lowly offense, they saw one pitcher take a step back and one take a step forward Friday.

Nearing the completion for one of the worst seasons in franchise history, the Reds’ outlook in the future is much more dependent on how their rookies in the rotation develop than the offensive woes that have plagued the club for the last three weeks.

Graham Ashcraft's struggles made the Reds' 6-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs more discouraging. Ashcraft gave up six runs (five earned) and recorded only eight outs in his second start back from the 15-day injured list.

“I feel great, I’m just not executing, that’s what it’s coming down," said Ashcraft, who gave up eight hits and four runs across four innings in his previous start. "The last two games, it’s just been execution. That’s what’s been killing me, not being able to execute pitches when I needed and where I needed."

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The Reds must win three of their final five games to avoid a 100-loss season. The Reds have lost 17 of their last 21 games, including four in a row.

Connor Overton provided the bright spot for the Reds in their blowout loss at Wrigley Field. Overton, who was the best pitcher in the Reds’ rotation at the beginning of the season, followed Ashcraft and pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings.

Overton wasn't a lock to remain on the 40-man roster throughout the offseason after his injury – he’s 29 with less than 50 career innings in the Majors – but Friday was a big audition. He gave up two singles and a walk while striking out three.

"I think people kind of forget after four months, right?" Overton said. "I just wanted to show them I’m still capable of being the same guy I was when I was first here."

Overton was sidelined for 110 games due to a stress reaction in his lower back after yielding five runs in four starts. He recovered in time to return at the end of the season, and he knows it's important to make the most of it. He signed with the Reds last November on a minor league contract.

After walking his first batter, he retired 13 batters in a row. It was the longest scoreless relief outing by a Reds pitcher since David Holmberg tossed 5 2/3 innings on Sept. 8, 2014.

“My whole goal coming back was to show what I can do for next season," Overton said. "Having the tough outing last week with Milwaukee, I really wanted to come out and get lengthened out and kind of get back into the right groove and show them what I can do.”

Ashcraft, the 24-year-old righty, thrives on inducing weak contact, but he paid the price for leaving pitches over the plate. He gave up six hits, including four doubles, and he issued two walks as he struggled to find a consistent pitch to navigate through the lineup.

The Cubs, who have won nine of their last 10 games, had three consecutive batters reach base against Ashcraft in the second inning. After an Ian Happ single and a Franmil Reyes double that landed in the left-field ivy, Nico Hoerner lined a two-run double down the left-field line. Three batters later, Christopher Morel added a two-out RBI double to right field.

"He’s still in his first season, he’s still continuing to learn," Reds Manager David Bell said of Ashcraft. "Sometimes, you don’t think about that or remember it because he was so good at times early on. It’s all part of the process. Any time you miss that much time, it’s not going to be perfect when you come back. There are still so many good signs, so many good things he does."

The bases were loaded with one out in the third inning through a single and two walks. Attempting to complete a potential inning-ending double play, rookie second baseman Spencer Steer skipped a throw past Ashcraft, who was covering first, and the ball bounced into the Reds’ dugout to allow an additional run to score.

The next batter, Yan Gomes, hit a ground-rule bloop double down the right-field line that bounced into the stands. That was Ashcraft’s last batter in the second-shortest start of his career, lasting one out longer than his 2 1/3-inning start at Wrigley Field on June 30.

In three starts against the Cubs this season, Ashcraft has permitted 19 hits and 17 runs in 11 1/3 innings.

“I don’t know, maybe it’s not a good place for me to pitch here," Ashcraft said. "I couldn’t tell you.”

Jake Fraley gave the Reds a 1-0 lead in the second inning when he drilled a solo homer to right field. It gave him homers in consecutive at-bats, dating back to his game-tying homer in the ninth inning Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

That was the only run the Reds scored in seven innings against Cubs right-hander Adrian Sampson, who produced his longest start of the season. Sampson has allowed six runs in his last seven starts.

The Reds, in addition to Steer’s throwing error that led to a run, cost themselves a run on the basepaths. With runners on the corners and one out in the seventh inning, Michael Siani hit a ground ball to first base. Cubs first baseman P.J. Higgins touched first then threw down to second base where Steer was tagged out before Fraley crossed the plate, turning into an inning-ending double play.

Sampson celebrated with a fist pump.