Bregman's 2-run homer in the 7th propels the Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the Reds

CINCINNATI (AP) — Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night.

Michael Busch had three hits and Carson Kelly also went deep for the Cubs, who improved to 3-2 on their six-game trip before the All-Star break.

All of Cincinnati's runs came via the long ball as Nathaniel Lowe, Eugenio Suárez and JJ Bleday homered. The Reds fell to 6-21 against NL Central teams.

Drew Pomeranz (2-3), the second of six Chicago pitchers used, got the win. Trent Thornton came in with two outs in the ninth and runners at the corners to get Sal Stewart to hit into a game-ending ground out for his third save.

Bregman was in a 2-for-18 slump before he connected on a sweeper from Julian Garcia (0-2) and drove it down the left-field line to put the Cubs back on top. Seiya Suzuki drew a walk to lead off the inning.

The Reds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when Lowe and Suárez hit back-to-back homers off Javier Assad.

The Cubs got within a run on an RBI base hit by Suzuki in the fifth before Kelly led off the sixth with a solo shot to center off Nick Lodolo. The left-hander exited the game after giving up the homer due to a blister on his left index finger.

Kelly is batting .298 (14 for 47) with three home runs and 13 RBIs in his last 15 games.

Caleb Ferguson came on and gave up a single to Busch, who gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead when he scored on Ian Happ's double to left-center.

Cincinnati promptly tied it at 3 in the bottom of the frame on Bleday's drive to right field.

The Cubs send left-hander Matthew Boyd (4-1, 4.31 ERA) to the mound Sunday. Lefty Andrew Abbott (5-5, 3.92 ERA) goes for the Reds.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl, bottom, dives safely back to second base as Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) bobbles the ball during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Cincinnati Reds' Jose De La Cruz singles against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Cincinnati Reds' Jose De La Cruz, left, runs past Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, right, on a missed ball during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch runs to score from first base on a hit by teammate Ian Happ during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Chicago Cubs' Carson Kelly, right, celebrates his home run against Cincinnati Reds' Nick Lodolo during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Yordan Alvarez had another moonshot for his AL-leading 31st home run, LaMonte Wade Jr. hit his first career grand slam and the Houston Astros beat the Texas Rangers 9-3 on Saturday night.

The Astros led for good after Alvarez, also the AL leader with 70 RBIs, hit a two-run homer 425 feet to straightaway center in the first inning, a night after a towering 455-foot blast pulled to right in the series opener. The American League All-Star starting designated hitter is one behind National League All-Star DH Kyle Schwarber for the major league lead in homers.

Peter Lambert (8-5) pitched three-hit ball over six innings while striking out seven and walking one. The right-hander, who didn't make the Astros roster out of spring training, is 6-1 with a 2.84 ERA over his last nine starts.

Ezequiel Durán homered twice for the AL West-leading Rangers (48-47). He had a solo shot off Lambert in the fourth, and added a two-run homer in the ninth.

Wade's slam in the second was his 57th career homer and his second in nine games with the Astros (47-50). Christian Vázquez went deep leading off the third to make it 7-0, when they already had eight of their 10 hits.

All three Houston homers came off Texas starter Kumar Rocker (2-8), who struck out six, but walked two and also hit a batter over 5 2/3 innings.

Alvarez, now with 201 career homers, also had a double and walked twice. He has hit .455 (10 of 22) with seven homers and 11 RBIs in six games this season at Globe Life Field.

Neither team had named a starting pitcher for the series finale Sunday going into the All-Star break, the last time the instate rivals play in Arlington this season. The Rangers go to Houston for a series July 31-Aug 2.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros' Yordan Alvarez runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros starting pitcher Peter Lambert throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez hits a home run against the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Houston Astros' LaMonte Wade Jr. is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a grand slam during the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)