Cubs score 36 runs in 2 games for best stretch since 1897 - ESPN

The red-hot Chicago Cubs, fueled by an offense that is putting up numbers not seen by its faithful in more than 120 years, are right in the thick of the National League Central race.

Chicago clubbed 16 hits and five home runs in a 16-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night, giving them 36 runs in their last two games — the franchise's most over that span in a single season since 1897.

Oh, and they weren't the Cubs in 1897. They were called the Chicago Colts then.

«It's hard to get everybody out,» Cubs manager David Ross told reporters Wednesday night. «Nobody's chasing, nobody's going outside of what they're trying to do.… Then you get to the underbelly of the bullpen and you just get to your rhythm and your zones, where you're trying to do damage.

»The offense is free to go out there and have their at-bats and work as a unit. I feel like it's just been a really cohesive group throughout the lineup for a while now. So, I think it's like 'wow' when we're able to put up these types of numbers offensively."

The Chicago Cubs have put up some gaudy numbers since the All-Star break, scoring 145 runs in 19 games, with a run differential of +51 over that span.

Fueled by the two-game barrage in which the Cubs became the first team in major league history to have 10 extra base hits and five home runs in consecutive games, Chicago has excited its fan base by steadily moving into contention in the NL Central.

After winning 12 of its last 15 games, Chicago trails the first-place Reds by three games and is within just a half-game of second-place Milwaukee Brewers. They also are just 2 1/2 games out of an NL wild-card spot.

«It's enjoyable to be in the race for sure,» Ross said. «My manager brain wants to go, 'We've got a