Reds Catcher Forgets Tag Play in Brain Freeze, Cubs Complete Sweep

Things have gone from bad to worse for the Cincinnati Reds.

The team started 20-11 and in first place in the NL Central. Since then, the Reds have gone winless in May, including three straight walk-off losses to division rival Chicago Cubs that dropped them to last place.

The teams met again Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field. In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Reds trailed 2-0 with the bases loaded and no outs. Chicago's Dansby Swanson hit a grounder to third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes.

Hayes stepped on third for the first out, then threw home to try for a double play. The throw beat Ian Happ easily. But Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson caught the ball while standing on the plate and never tagged Happ.

Hayes's force-out at third had ended, so Happ needed a tag. Stephenson left him untouched. Happ trotted to the dugout as the Cubs took a 3-0 lead.

Reds broadcaster John Sadak called it immediately. "It's a tag play! He's gotta tag him!"

Analyst Chris Welsh reacted too. "No! No!" he said. "Oh, this is a middle school mistake right here."

Chicago added four more runs that inning and won 8-3, completing a four-game sweep. The Reds have lost seven in a row.

Cincinnati recently tied an MLB record by walking seven straight Pittsburgh Pirates batters last week.

The winless road trip has ended. The Reds host the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals for their next six games.