Seiya Suzuki (R) of the Chicago Cubs celebrates after hitting a three-run home run in the eighth inning of an MLB game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio, on May 23, 2025. (Getty/Kyodo)
CINCINNATI, Ohio (Kyodo) — Seiya Suzuki ripped his 13th home run while going 3-for-5 as the Chicago Cubs came from behind to beat the Cincinnati Reds 13-6 on Friday for their third straight win.
Suzuki launched a three-run shot off reliever Brent Suter’s 1-1 four-seamer with two out in the eighth, putting the Cubs up 11-6 and capping a productive outing at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park.
“He is a lefty who pitches with a unique timing and is someone I couldn’t get a hit off at all before,” Suzuki said. “I swung at it almost giving up but made contact.”
Batting third, Suzuki doubled in the fourth and scored on a two-run shot from Pete Crow-Armstrong that cut the Cubs’ deficit to 4-2. Suzuki’s single in the seventh loaded the bases before Chicago’s cleanup hitter went deep again for a grand slam that gave the visiting team the lead for the first time at 8-6.
Yusei Kikuchi earned his first win for the Los Angeles Angels, meanwhile, after scattering seven hits over 5-2/3 shutout innings in a 7-4 victory over the Miami Marlins that stretched their unbeaten streak to eight games.
Kikuchi (1-4) had a runner on base in each frame but kept the Marlins off the board. The biggest jam arrived in the sixth when he gave up two singles and a walk to load the bases before leaving the mound, but reliever Hunter Strickland retired the next batter.
The Japanese southpaw struck out four and walked four in his 11th start for the Angels. He is currently posting an MLB career-best 3.17 ERA in his seventh season in the United States.