CHICAGO – From Cincinnati’s perspective, what more could you have possibly asked from the debut of starter Zack Littell?
The Reds badly needed a lengthy outing vs. the Cubs Tuesday at Wrigley Field after grinding through back-to-back bullpen days. What they got from the hurler they acquired from the Rays on July 30 was seven efficient innings along with a season-high eight strikeouts.
They also needed Littell to hinder a potent Cubs offense while Chicago starter Shota Imanaga kept their own bats in check. Littell met that challenge, too, holding the Cubs to just one run on a Matt Shaw homer in the fifth.
And, once Spencer Steer’s three-run blast sailed over the ivy in left field during Cincinnati’s four-run seventh, it helped Littell’s sparkling debut come complete with a 5-1 victory.
The right-hander’s first night in a Reds uniform certainly didn’t look like it would go that smoothly out of the gate. Littell allowed a single from the first batter he faced before walking the next on four pitches.
Any concerns that may have caused were quickly dashed, as Littell struck out three consecutive hitters – including All-Stars Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong – on his way to retiring 10 straight Cubs.
Not a bad way to introduce yourself to your new team.
