The 2020 Cubs season may have been shorter than normal, but it was packed with huge moments and thrilling games. Marquee Sports Network is counting down the Top 10 games of the year — featuring a new Top 10 game each weeknight in November on our network.

No. 10 – Cubs at Reds (July 27)

The Cubs pulled out a nail-biter, winning 8-7 in Cincinnati in the first road game of the year.

Jon Lester threw 5 no-hit innings and the Cubs jumped out to a 7-0 lead.

But the Reds came storming back against the Cubs bullpen, pulling to within a run in the bottom of the 9th inning before Jeremy Jeffress pulled off a heroic save.

“He came in and was humongous for us,” David Ross said of Jeffress. “Really big outs there to pick up this win — that was nice.”

Lester only threw 76 pitches in the game as he ramped up to form following the shutdown. It was his first start of the campaign.

“I definitely was losing my legs there in the 5th a little bit,” Lester said after the game. “I thought Rossy could tell, Willy [Contreras] could tell. But all in all, getting to that point felt great.”

The Cubs offense struggled to find consistency in the 2020 season, but they got off to a pretty solid start to the year and this game was more proof of that. Steven Souza Jr. had a 2-run double in the 1st inning while Contreras, David Bote and Javy Báez all added RBI hits of their own in the first 2 innings.

The win gave the Cubs a 3-1 record to begin the season and the lineup was averaging 5.75 runs per game through that point.

Highlights

Top 1st | Contreras doubles to LF scoring Rizzo

Top 6th | Rizzo homers to RF to extend lead

Bottom 9th | Jeffress gets Votto to line out to end the game