Jeff Hoffman gives up two runs, takes loss

It’s the first three-homer game in the superstar outfielder’s young career. He started the home half of the first inning with a bang, crushing an 0-1 fastball from Andrew Abbott for a 435-foot (105.8-mph EV) solo shot. He victimized Abbott again in the second inning, that time for a 375-foot (103.4-mph) two-run blast to right. He then singled and scored in the fourth inning before tagging Tony Santillan for a monstrous 444-foot (105.3-mph EV) three-run bomb in the seventh inning. While he’s unlikely to win, Crow-Armstrong is certainly going to garner MVP consideration this season. He’s slashing a robust .282/.377/.567 with 36 homers, 89 RBI, 97 runs scored and 32 stolen bases while playing exceptional defense in center field.

Bregman did his damage in the opening inning, crushing an 0-2 curveball from Andrew Abbott for a 416-foot (102.3-mph EV) two-run shot that increased the Cubs’ lead to 3-0 before an out had been recorded. He added an RBI single in the fourth inning and a double in the ninth for good measure. On the season, the 32-year-old third baseman is now slashing .255/.344/.422 with the aforementioned 20 long balls and 73 RBI on the season.

Suzuki singled in the home half of the first inning and rode home on Alex Bregman’s two-run blast. He also singled in the fourth inning before capping off the Cubs’ scoring with a 406-foot (104.4-mph EV) two-run shot off of Reds’ catcher Jose Trevino in the eighth inning. With his three-hit attack, Suzuki is now hitting .277/.370/.492 with 23 long balls and 79 RBI on the year.

On the plus side for fantasy managers, Gausman did rack up seven strikeouts on the afternoon while allowing a pair of free passes. Most of the damage done against him came via the long ball, with Eugenio Suarez and Sal Stewart each slugging two-run homers against him. The 35-year-old hurler generated 13 swings and misses on 102 pitches on the day, posting a strong CSW of 33 percent. Now 8-11 on the season, he’ll bring a middling 4.52 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a 156/43 K/BB ratio (155 1/3 innings) into Thursday’s battle against the Brewers.

The 22-year-old rookie slugger victimized Cubs’ right-hander Kevin Gausman for a 431-foot (105.9-mph EV) two-run shot in the third inning that pulled the Reds to within two runs at 6-4. That would be as close as they would get. Stewart also singled in the ballgame. He’s having an exceptional rookie season, slashing .265/.337/.484 with 30 homers, 104 RBI and 12 stolen bases.

Woof. Abbott also issued a pair of walks in the contest while recording only one strikeout. He served up a leadoff homer to Pete Crow-Armstrong and a two-run blast to Alex Bregman in the opening inning, then Crow-Armstrong added a two-run shot to his ledger during a three-run second inning. Abbott got just four whiffs on 68 offerings on the day, posting a CSW of 26 percent. He’ll try to put this one behind him as he carries a 4.49 ERA, 1.44 WHIP and a 115/70 K/BB ratio (148 1/3 innings) into a difficult matchup against the Brewers on Friday.

Benintendi was the White Sox offense today; the rest of the lineup combined to go 0-for-27 against Bailey Ober and company. He drove in the team’s run in the first, scored the second run in the fourth thanks to a Kaelen Culpepper error and then hit a go-ahead homer in the sixth. It’s probably his best game since he hit two homers and drove in five runs against the Twins last September. He now has 18 career homers against the Twins, which is seven more than he has versus any other team.

Fedde struck out four in his first start since he beat the Rays on July 31. He was used as a bulk guy his last couple of times out, but the White Sox saw no need to go that route today against a Twins lineup which, especially with Byron Buxton out, is just average-ish hitters top to bottom. Fedde could start again Thursday against the Astros, depending on how the White Sox want to line things up.

That’s two saves in two days for Hudson. Grant Taylor is still probably the favorite for saves on the White Sox, but they’ve made it clear they’re not going to hold him back for the ninth; he ended up with a win after pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings Friday. Hudson should be down Sunday, and it’s hard to say if Taylor will be available. Jordan Hicks might be a candidate for a save chance.

Ober needed just seven pitches in the fifth, but the Twins didn’t bring him back out for the sixth at 80 pitches on the day. Since his surprising two-hit shutout of the Marlins back on May 12, Ober has made 12 starts without ever getting fewer than 12 outs or more than 18. The quick hooks are a big part of which he’s just 1-1 in 10 starts since beginning of July. He’ll face the White Sox again next weekend.