Ryan Ludwick lets Wrigley Field ivy keep ball, helps Reds beat Cubs

The move seemed harmless enough. But when Cincinnati Reds left fielder Ryan Ludwick wisely chose not to pursue a ball stuck in the Wrigley Field ivy Monday night, the decision proved to be a game-changer.

With the Reds up 1-0 in the third inning, Chicago Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney led off the home half of the inning by lining one to left that ended up getting caught in the ballpark's famous shrubbery. Ludwick came very close to reaching for it, but didn't. He then raised both arms, conceding the ball lost. Had Ludwick tried to find it, Barney likely would have ended up with an inside-the-park home run and tied the game at one-apiece. Instead, Barney had to settle for a ground-rule double. Alas, the Cubs weren't able to get him home and the score remained 1-0. Chicago eventually got on the scoreboard thanks to an Anthony Rizzo solo home run in the sixth to tie the game at one — but if it weren't for Ludwick's savvy move, Rizzo's shot could have made it 2-1 Cubbies. The game remained tied until the top of the ninth, when the Reds exploded for five runs, highlighted by a Devin Mesoraco grand slam, to evenually win 6-1.

That's cold

Moving to NBA news, Indiana Pacers swingman Evan Turner called his former Ohio State teammate P.J. Hill to help bail him out after his Ferrari ran out of gas on the freeway. This is the thanks Turner got.

El Tri advance

Finally at the World Cup, Mexico defeated Croatia 3-1 to move on to the knockout stage where it will face the Netherlands. The victory was highlighted by an excited El Tri manager Miguel Herrera.

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