WATCH: Highlights from heated Cubs-Reds clash

Yasiel Puig felt that Pedro Strop intentionally hit him with a pitch, and a fight nearly broke out because of it. (Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports)

Cole Little · Senior Writer · Saturday, June 29 2019

CINCINNATI — The fifth career grand slam by Chicago Cubs (45-38) shortstop Javier Baez was overshadowed by a controversial hit by pitch in the Cubs' 6-0 shutout victory over the Cincinnati Reds (37-43) on Saturday. Reds right fielder Yasiel Puig nearly came to blows with Cubs reliever Pedro Strop after he was hit a 3-0 pitch from Strop in the bottom of the eighth. Neither Puig nor Strop was ejected, but the benches cleared as a result of the tiff.

Offensively, the Cubs did not exactly hit the cover off the ball. Following a go-ahead home run from right fielder Jason Heyward in the top of the second, the Cubs wasted multiple scoring opportunities, including an auspicious situation in the top of the fifth that saw them load the bases with no outs but fail to get any runs out of it. However, Baez braced the Cubs with his 20th dinger of the year that came in the form of a pivotal eighth-inning grand slam, and the North Siders came away with the win.