Cubs Rookie Horton Extends Scoreless Streak, Reliever Kittredge Throws Immaculate Inning vs Reds

The Chicago Cubs secured a 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, highlighted by two historic pitching performances. Rookie starter Cade Horton extended his scoreless streak to four consecutive starts, totaling 23.2 innings without allowing a run, a record among Chicago rookies, boosting his season stats to a 3.18 ERA and a 6-3 record. Meanwhile, reliever Andrew Kittredge, recently acquired from the Baltimore Orioles and initially booed after a poor outing, rebounded spectacularly by throwing an immaculate inning—striking out three batters on nine pitches—a rare feat achieved by only 120 pitchers in MLB history and making him the sixth Cubs pitcher to do so. Manager Craig Counsell showed confidence by sending Kittredge back to the mound promptly, and the reliever's performance was pivotal in maintaining the Cubs' momentum amid a challenging season. With a tough road trip and a looming showdown with the dominant Milwaukee Brewers, the Cubs depend on continued strong outings from Horton and Kittredge to remain competitive in the NL Central race.