CINCINNATI _ The Cubs dropped an 11-2 game to the Reds on Saturday afternoon at Great American Ball Park, their third straight loss in the series.
Reds starter Anthony DeSclafini earned the win and hit a grand slam in a six-run third inning, only the fourth by a Reds pitcher in franchise history.
Cubs catcher Chris Gimenez was called on to pitch the eighth inning with the Cubs trailing, 8-2, and struck out Tucker Barnhart before giving up a three-run homer to Joey Votto.
Luke Farrell got the loss in a spot start, though Brian Duensing was the one hit hard in the third, serving up the grand slam and allowing five runs on four hits and a walk.
The Cubs offense managed only six hits after recording four hits in Friday's 6-3 loss.
Manager Joe Maddon rested third baseman Kris Bryant, who was 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on Friday.
"We've got to get (Willson) Contreras going, we've got to get 'KB' and (Anthony Rizzo) going," Maddon said afterwards. "I mean, those were our primary offensive weapons last year, and they really haven't hit their stride yet."
Contreras hit a solo home run in the second inning, and Ben Zobrist added another in the sixth when the game was out of reach.
Tyler Chatwood is scheduled to pitch Sunday's finale, as the Cubs try to avoid the sweep to the last-place Reds.
