Brandon Williamson posted a career-high in strikeouts Wednesday as the Martin County West graduate took a no-decision in his second career start at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
The left-hander struck out seven in 4 1/3 innings.
He had struck out six twice, in his major league debut at Colorado on May 16 and at home vs. Milwaukee on June 6.
The Martin County West graduate allowed five runs on four hits and walked two. Williamson threw 77 pitches, 50 for strikes.
Williamson and the Reds led 5-3 in the fifth. He walked Jeimer Candelario and gave up a one-out single to Nico Hoerner. Manager David Bell then removed Williamson.
The Cubs scored two in the fifth to tie it, assuring Williamson of the no-decision.
Chicago batted around in both the fifth and sixth innings, scoring five in the sixth and four in the seventh. The Cubs added two more in the eighth to win 16-6.
While there were a few Martin County people watching live in Chicago, there were also a lot watching on TV back home, as Nate Klima tweeted:
Cincinnati is in first place in the National League Central, a half-game ahead of Milwaukee and three up on Chicago. The Reds and Cubs are playing tonight (Thursday) and the Brewers are hosting Pittsburgh.