Hunter Greene strikes out 12 and allows 3 hits in 7 innings as Reds defeat Cubs 4-0

CINCINNATI (AP) — Hunter Greene struck out 12 and allowed three hits in seven dominant innings, Elly De La Cruz and JJ Bleday homered and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 4-0 on Friday night.

Greene (1-1) missed the first three months of the season after undergoing surgery on March 11 to remove bone chips from his right elbow. The right-hander struggled in his debut on July 4 against Baltimore, going 3 1/3 innings and tying a career high with eight earned runs allowed.

The 26-year-old Greene bounced back with one of the best outings of his five-year career, throwing 68 strikes on 93 pitches. The 12 strikeouts tied for the second-most of his career and he threw 19 first-pitch strikes to the 25 batters he faced.

Greene allowed just four baserunners, with only two reaching second base. Chicago had runners on first and second with one out in the seventh, but Nico Hoerner lined out to center and Michael Conforto struck out.

Emilio Pagán finished for his eighth save in 11 opportunities.

De La Cruz led off the fifth by lining a fastball off Cubs starter Shota Imanaga (5-8) into the stands in left-center. De La Cruz had a triple into the right-field corner and scored on Sal Stewart's sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

Spencer Steer, who had three hits, followed with an infield single before Bleday drove Jake Woodford's cutter over the wall in center.

Cubs hitters set a season high by striking out 16 times against three Cincinnati pitchers. It was Chicago's ninth shutout loss of the season, tied with the Giants for second-most in the majors. The Padres have 10.

Cincinnati had its sixth shutout victory.

Chicago sends right-hander Javier Assad (6-1, 4.15 ERA) to the mound while Cincinnati will go with lefty Nick Lodolo (3-2, 4.68 ERA).

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Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga reacts after a strike out in the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Friday, July 10, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen)

Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer reacts after hitting a single in the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, July 10, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen)

Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner reacts after striking out in the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds Friday, July 10, 2026 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Hunter Greene delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, July 10, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Michael Swensen)

CHICAGO (AP) — Rookie Chicago White Sox center fielder Tristan Peters hit for the cycle Friday night, becoming the franchise's first player to achieve the feat in nine years.

Peters doubled in the third, singled in the fifth and hit a two-run homer in the seventh against the Athletics.

Needing a triple, he came up to bat a second time in the seventh and hit hard grounder past first base and down the right-field line. The 26-year-old from Canada rounded second and slid headfirst into third to beat the relay throw, getting a huge ovation. He drove in three of Chicago's eight runs in the inning.

Peters is the third major leaguer to hit for the cycle this season, joining Pete Crow-Armstrong and Bryce Harper. The last White Sox player to do it was Jose Abreu in 2017.

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Chicago White Sox's Tristan Peters reacts after hitting a foul ball during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox in Chicago, Tuesday, July 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)