CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Happ slugged a 98-mph fastball from Michael Lorenzen through the Wrigley Field wind and knocked the wind out of the Reds.
Happ, a first-round draft pick from the University of Cincinnati, hit a three-run homer with two outs in the eighth inning and turned a 4-2 Reds' lead into a 5-4 loss.
The last-place Reds lost for the ninth time in 10 games and didn't have much to say afterward.
Discouraged Reds manager Bryan Price mentioned the wind blowing in and knocking down some balls — except Happ's homer - then seemed to suggest there might be wholesale changes in the Reds roster for 2018.
"Truth be told, I don't have really a whole lot else to say today," Price said. "It just was a tough loss. We've got some things we've got to work on between now and spring training, but I'm not going to get into the specifics at this point. I'm just tired of watching us lose games that are there to win."
Lorenzen (8-3) was disconsolate after his fourth blown save.
"I need to become a better pitcher," said Lorenzen, who otherwise gave one-word answers.
Happ's 24th homer drew a curtain call from the crowd and gave the Cubs their 14th win in 17 games.
"Home runs at Wrigley definitely never get old," said Happ, who started at third base - his fifth different defensive position.
"He's so deceptively strong," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He hits the ball, it's really loud. ... He does a lot of good baseball things."
The Central Division champs rested Kris Bryant and other regulars as they set sights on defending their World Series title starting next week.
Brian Duensing (1-1) pitched a scoreless eighth. Justin Grimm worked the ninth for his first save in three chances.
Reds first baseman Joey Votto had two hits and an RBI, giving him 100 this season. He also reached base in his 30th straight game.
Robert Stephenson gave up two runs — one earned — and four hits in five innings.
Quintana gave up four runs and six hits in 4 2/3 innings. Coming off his second career shutout, a three-hitter against Milwaukee, the left-hander was sailing along with a 2-0 lead when he ran into trouble in the fifth.
With runners on first and third, he gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Scott Schebler and Tucker Barnhart. After Stephenson bunted into a double play, Phillip Ervin chased Quintana with an RBI single to left.
Felix Pena then walked Zack Cozart before Votto lined an RBI single off the glove of leaping second baseman La Stella, making it 4-2.
IN THE BASKET
Reds RF Scott Schebler saved a run in the fifth. With a man on second and two out, he raced to the corner and made an over-the-shoulder basket catch to rob La Stella.
FIRST HIT
Cubs reliever Hector Rondon picked up his first career hit when he beat out a dribbler in front of the plate in the seventh.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: Cozart was back in the lineup after missing a game because of right quadriceps tightness.
Cubs: RHP Jake Arrieta will miss his final regular-season start to rest before the playoffs. The Cubs will send Mike Montgomery to the mound instead of the 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner on Sunday. Arrieta strained his right hamstring on Sept. 4 and didn't pitch again until Sept. 21.
UP NEXT
Cubs LHP Jon Lester (12-8, 4.46 ERA) makes his final regular season start, while RHP Jackson Stephens (2-0, 3.86) goes for Cincinnati. Lester has a 4.94 ERA in five September starts after posting a 7.85 ERA over four outings in August.
