The Chicago Cubs had the champagne on ice and a watch party planned in the visiting clubhouse at Great American Ball Park after beating the Reds 9-1, awaiting the chance to become the second team in four days to tear up that room for postseason-position clincher in Cincinnati.
But even with their second straight ticket to October all but punched and another series victory in hand, the Cubs were in no mood to celebrate after watching their star third baseman Alex Bregman, leave the game after getting hit in the face by a line drive while on-deck in the fourth inning.
Bregman, who clutched his left eye as blood dripped down his face, has been one of the league's best hitters in the second half and a pivotal leader in the Cubs clubhouse. The extent
of his injury was not immediately known when the game ended.
The Reds ended their home season with the blowout loss, finishing 38-43 at home this season – and dropping to a season low-water mark of 12 games under .500 with six games to play.
After a scheduled day off Monday, the Reds finish the season with three-game series in Atlanta and Toronto.
The Reds, whose run came on JJ Bleday's 23rd home run of the season, went 2-5 during their final homestand of the season, against the Los Angeles Dodgers (1-3) and Cubs (1-2).
Along the way, Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz singled in the first and stole second base. It was his 28th steal of the season, to go with 28 home runs, keeping his chances alive for a fourth 30-30 season in franchise history (Eric Davis in 1987, Barry Larkin in 1996 and Brandon Phillips in 2007).
Cubs MVP favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong, who had been squelched by Reds pitching the first two games of the series (0-for-10, four Ks), flexed in the series finale with a three-hit day that included a two-run homer (his 45th) and a double. He scored three times.
The Dodgers clinched the National League West Division title with a victory over the Reds on Thursday and partied hard enough in the visitors clubhouse at GABP that some of the furniture was still missing from the room when the Cubs got to town.
The Cubs needed an Arizona loss to the New York Yankees to clinch Sunday. That game started just before the Reds-Cubs game ended.
It would be the fourth time in 10 days a team has clinched a postseason position on a day they beat the Reds.
The Sunday crowd of 28,917 capped an 81-date home total this season of 1,991,773.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cubs clobber Reds to reach brink of clinch, lose star Alex Bregman
