Cubs 8, Reds 4: Bregman Thirteen Hit FP into the Break

Bregman's seventh-inning homer ended the tug-of-war

July 12, 2026 - Cincinnati - The score was tied 4-4 heading to the seventh at Great American Ball Park, and Alex Bregman had already done plenty—go-ahead RBI double in the first, single in the fifth.

Then he hit his ninth homer of the season, a three-run drive off Pierce Johnson, and the Chicago Cubs pulled away from the Cincinnati Reds 8-4, per the Associated Press recap on CBS Sports.

Season-high four RBIs for Bregman. 13 hitting FP on the AthX Engine daily board—top hitter on the entire Sunday slate heading into the Midsummer Classic.

Chicago took two of three in the series and entered the break at 54-42, in position for an NL wild card and five games back of NL Central-leading Milwaukee. Cincinnati (43-52) lost its fourth straight series and sits last in the division.

Friday's shutout loss, Sunday's answer

The Cubs had been shut out Friday. Bregman had hit a two-run homer Saturday and came into Sunday a triple shy of the cycle across the weekend.

Michael Busch's RBI double in the first built a 2-0 lead. Cincinnati answered in the third when Spencer Steer hit an RBI grounder, JJ Bleday singled in a run, and Eugenio Suárez hit his 200th career homer—a two-run drive that put the Reds ahead 4-2.

Reds starter Andrew Abbott gave up four runs, four hits, and three walks in four innings. The game stayed alive until the seventh.

Crow-Armstrong broke the tie before Bregman finished it

With the score 4-4, Dansby Swanson doubled off Chase Petty (1-2) to open the seventh and scored on Pete Crow-Armstrong's one-out single off Sam Moll—Crow-Armstrong's first hit of the series.

That made it 5-4. Bregman's three-run homer off Johnson turned it into a rout.

Matthew Boyd (5-1) improved to 5-0 in eight starts since losing his opening outing, allowing four runs and six hits in 6 2/3 innings. Jacob Webb got two outs for his fifth save.

AthX Engine and a June star into the break

Bregman's 13 hitting FP led every hitter on July 12. Crow-Armstrong added 8 hitting FP. AthX Engine graded Chicago at 15 team FP.

Crow-Armstrong entered the break as AthX Engine's June Hitter of the Month—Sunday was another line on that resume before the off days. Daily fantasy totals register separately from dynamic pricing on the marketplace.

Cincinnati resumes the second half Friday at Colorado. For the full Sunday leaderboard context, see July 12 Top 10.

*Sources: MLB.com schedule, CBS Sports/AP recap, AthX Engine scoring. Information only; not financial advice.*