Ben Brown shines on mound as Cubs blank Reds

Seiya Suzuki doubled in a run in the eighth inning to break a scoreless tie and four Chicago pitchers combined on a one-hitter as the Cubs beat the visiting Cincinnati Reds 2-0 on Saturday afternoon.

With two runners on and one out against Graham Ashcraft (3-4), Suzuki hit a fly ball into the right field corner that landed just fair and allowed Ian Happ to score from second base.

The Cubs then loaded the bases with two outs before the Cubs added an insurance run on Dansby Swanson's infield single.

Brad Keller (2-0) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for the win. Daniel Palencia retired the Reds in order in the ninth for his fifth save.

Ian Happ, Kyle Tucker and Nico Hoerner each had two hits for Chicago, which won for the fifth time in its last six games.

Ben Brown followed opener Drew Pomeranz to start the second inning and retired 14 of the first 15 batters he faced. Cincinnati did not record its first hit until TJ Friedl singled up the middle with two outs in the sixth inning.

The Cubs opted to use an opener in front of Brown, who has struggled in the first inning this season. The right-hander responded by allowing one hit with one walk and nine strikeouts over six scoreless innings.

Cincinnati starter Nick Lodolo matched Brown's outing with six scoreless innings. The Cubs put two runners on with two outs in the fourth, but Lodolo escaped unscathed when Swanson struck out on a 3-2 changeup.

Chicago mounted another threat in the sixth inning after Happ hit a leadoff double. Suzuki drew a one-out walk before Lodolo got Carson Kelly to bounce into a double play.

Lodolo allowed five hits with two walks and five strikeouts while throwing 94 pitches.

Scott Barlow replaced Lodolo to begin the seventh inning and issued a leadoff walk to Pete Crow-Armstrong, who stole second base before Barlow struck out the next three batters.

Chicago won despite grounding into three double plays and going 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position.

Cincinnati, which opened the three-game series with a 6-2 victory on Friday, had just two baserunners and struck out 10 times.