CINCINNATI — The Chicago Cubs scored first. Then they scored again. But in the middle innings of a rain-dampened Game 7 at Riverfront Stadium, the Cincinnati Reds unleashed a storm of their own—one that didn’t come from the sky, but from the bats.
Fueled by two home runs from Bernie Williams and a six-run seventh inning, the Reds crushed the Cubs 12–4 in a decisive Game 7 to advance to the Federal League Championship Series. The win capped a dramatic comeback in the series for Cincinnati, who trailed 3–2 before taking Games 6 and 7 at home.
Williams, who was named Division Series MVP, went 2-for-4 with 2 homers, 3 RBIs, and 3 runs scored in the finale, finishing the series hitting .276 with a .300 OBP, 2 HR, 5 RBI, and 6 runs scored.
The Turning Point: Fifth Inning Explosion
Trailing 1–0 through four innings, the Reds broke through in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs and two runners on, Williams launched his first homer of the night, a two-run shot off Chicago starter Erik King to give Cincinnati the lead.
It was just the beginning.
Two batters later, Chris Grebeck doubled in two more, pushing the Reds’ lead to 5–1 and knocking King’s composure off track.
Chicago answered with a solo homer from Mark Grace in the sixth, then back-to-back blasts by Mike Piazza and Geronimo Peña to open the eighth. But by then, it was already too late.
Six in the Seventh Seals It
Cincinnati responded to the Cubs’ flicker of life with a haymaker. The bottom of the seventh began with a leadoff double by Omar Vizquel, followed by a walk, an error, and then another Bernie Williams blast—this one off Steve Chiamparino.
The seven-run lead ballooned to a mountain, and Cincinnati never looked back.
Rijo Steady, Rhodes Slams the Door
Veteran right-hander José Rijo delivered six innings of two-run ball, working around five hits and three walks while keeping the Cubs from stringing anything together. Arthur Rhodes, who struggled earlier in the series, came up big with three innings of work despite giving up two solo shots. He closed it out for his first postseason save.
“It’s a total team win,” Williams said after the game. “We got contributions up and down the lineup, the bullpen stepped up, and the crowd never stopped.”
Reds Move On
The Reds now advance to the Federal League Championship Series, where they’ll face the Kansas City Royals, a 113-win juggernaut who just shut out Pittsburgh in their own Game 6 clincher.
For now, though, the focus in Cincinnati is on the celebration—and on a red-hot lineup finding its rhythm at the perfect time.
Box Score Highlights
Chicago Cubs
- Home Runs: Mark Grace (6th), Mike Piazza (8th), Geronimo Peña (8th)
- RBI Leaders: Piazza (2), Grace (1), Peña (1)
- Pitching Woes: Erik King (6.1 IP, 7 R, 4 ER), Steve Chiamparino (0.1 IP, 4 R, 1 ER)
Cincinnati Reds
- Home Runs: Bernie Williams 2 (5th and 7th), Eric Davis (7th)
- Extra-Base Hits: Vizquel, Grebeck, Williams
- Multi-RBI Performers: Williams (3), Grebeck (2), Davis (2), Vina (3)
Player of the Game: Bernie Williams – 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 3 R
Reds win the series 4–3, and next up: a trip to Kansas City with the pennant on the line.