The Reds’ latest win streak ended at 7 games, Sunday afternoon. In the top of the 1st inning, the Cubs’ Ian Happ smacked a double that drove in 3 runs from the loaded bases, and Chicago suddenly grabbed a 3-0 lead. Then in the top of the 2nd, Mike Tauchman punched a hit into right center field, bringing another run across the plate, Cubs up by 4. There was some hope for Cincy in the bottom of 3, when catcher Luke Maile ripped a solo home run, his 2nd of the season. Carson Spiers relieved Frankie Montas on the mound, and looked sharp striking out 7 Cubs in a row, holding Chicago scoreless for 5 2/3 innings, but even that wasn’t enough, the Cubs taking the victory, 4-2. Cincinnati’s off today, but will be back at it tomorrow night and Wednesday, hosting the Guardians for a pair. Catch the broadcast beginning at 6:40 Tuesday, here on the Sports Voice, 103.9 WRBI.
Sunday was a huge IndyCar race day at the Road America course in Wisconsin, with a pair of high-profile events. In the development series, INDY NXT or “Next,” British driver Jamie Chadwick had become the first woman to earn a pole on either a road or street course in the history of the series, and was the 3rd ever on an INDY NXT pole, the first since 2010. Jamie then drove into history- she’s now the first to win an INDY NXT race in those 14 years, and only the 3rd to win ever in the development series, taking the victory Sunday in the Grand Prix of Road America. She edged out her Andretti Global teammate Louis Foster, by just 82 hundredths of a second for the win. Series leader Jacob Abel was another 2 hundredths back, for 3rd place.
The NTT IndyCar regulars ran the XPEL Grand Prix on the Road America course Sunday as well, and 2-time series champ Will Power, starting 5th, defeated teammate and 500 champion Josef Newgarden by 3.2 seconds. Scott McLaughlin ran 3rd, 8 seconds behind Power. It’s Will’s first series victory since June of ’22 in Detroit– his 42nd career win, ending a drought of 34 races. The 42 victories tie Power with Michael Andretti for all-time wins in the IndyCar series. Power called the victory “massively special.”
And in girls’ high school tennis, the state Coaches’ Association has named East Central’s Payton Pies in singles and the Lawrenceburg doubles team of Sarah McAndrew and Jenna May to the all-District 8 team. Payton becomes the first Trojan player to ever make the All-District team 3 years in a row.