Cade Horton's scoreless streak continues as he dominates the Reds in a 6-1 Cubs win on Aug. 6. Seiya Suzuki homered as the Cubs avoided a sweep at Wrigley.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when it felt like the sky was falling, a rookie ace stepped up and stopped the bleeding. Cade Horton was nothing short of brilliant on Wednesday, blanking the Reds for nearly six innings as the Cubs' bats came alive with three homers to cruise to a much-needed 6-1 victory at Wrigley Field, avoiding a demoralizing sweep.
Cade Horton has not allowed a run in four consecutive starts, extending his scoreless streak to an incredible 23 1/3 innings.
Let's be clear: Cade Horton is saving the Cubs' season right now. With a starting rotation that looks more like a MASH unit—missing Justin Steele, Shota Imanaga, Jameson Taillon, Javier Assad, and even trade deadline pickup Michael Soroka—the rookie has been a godsend. Against Cincinnati, he was masterful, carving through their lineup for 5 2/3 shutout frames, allowing just two hits while striking out six and, importantly, walking none. Manager Craig Counsell praised his poise and command, and it's easy to see why. Horton's ERA has plummeted to 3.18, and he's pitching with the confidence of a 10-year veteran, not a kid making his way in the bigs.
Horton's brilliance gave the offense the spark it needed. Seiya Suzuki was the main catalyst, putting together a perfect day at the plate. He went 2-for-2, launched his 27th homer of the year, and added a sacrifice fly for two RBIs. But he wasn't alone in the power department. Dansby Swanson, who was named the team's 'Superhero' for the game, and Ian Happ also went deep, providing the cushion the Cubs desperately needed. After a couple of quiet games, seeing the bats come alive with timely power was a massive relief and a key reason they were able to pull away.
Even amidst the celebration, Manager Craig Counsell is playing the long game. Before the first pitch, he addressed slugger Kyle Tucker's recent slump, giving him a day off and expressing his 'super confident' belief that Tucker will finish 2025 strong. It's a classic Counsell move—publicly backing his guy and showing faith. It's a reminder that while one win is great, this is a marathon. The victory was sealed when Daniel Palencia struck out Gavin Lux with a nasty slider, but the focus remains on getting the entire roster, including struggling stars like Tucker and Wednesday's 'Billy Goat' Nico Hoerner (0-for-4), firing on all cylinders for the stretch run.
This was more than just one win in early August; it was a statement. It was Cade Horton declaring his arrival, the offense showing its thunderous potential, and the team proving it can punch back. Now sitting 3.5 games behind the Brewers, the Cubs have a chance to build on this momentum. With Horton looking like a true stopper, the key will be getting the rest of the rotation healthy and the lineup consistently dangerous. One game doesn't win a division, but this one felt like it might just have turned the tide.
