With All-Star announcement looming, Cubs beat Reds in 10

The Cubs will know soon who’s representing them at this month’s all-star game in Washington, D.C. And that announcement might not be the most dramatic part of the day.

David Bote drew a walk-off walk in the 10th from Jackson Stephens and the Cubs ended a wild day with a 6-5 win over the Reds. Sunday was the Cubs’ ninth straight win that came after trailing, and allowed them to take two of three from Cincinnati.

Jon Lester went 6 1 /3 innings and allowed four runs, walking three and allowing Eugenio Suarez’s two-run homer. Entering Sunday, Lester was a legitimate candidate to start the July 17 exhibition for the NL, beginning the day with an 11-2 record and 2.25 ERA and wins in his last seven starts, before seeing that streak end against Cincinnati.

It was Javy Baez who delivered another all-star moment in the seventh, driving in two with a single to center off David Hernandez to give the Cubs a 5-4 lead. Albert Almora scored from third, and when Billy Hamilton was slow to get the ball back in, Jason Heyward, who started the play at first, scrambled home to give the Cubs the lead.

After the play, the 38,655 in attendance began yet another Javy! Javy! Javy! chant, which has become almost a daily occurrence at Wrigley.

That didn’t go down as the game-winning hit because of Adam Duvall’s leadoff homer in the ninth off Morrow that tied the game. For Morrow, it was just his second blown save in 22 tries.

The Cubs also didn’t help themselves in the fifth.

Tied at 3, the Reds’ Hamilton stole a run for Cincinnati. After walking, Hamilton stole second and reached third when Willson Contreras’ throw eluded Addison Russell and bounded into center. Albert Almora then bobbled the ball and took an extra second to get the ball into the infield, giving Hamilton a chance to come home and score, which he did when Almora’s throw short-hopped Contreras at home to give Cincinnati a 4-3 lead.