CHICAGO — It got to the point on Monday night that Terry Francona was starting to think about what the postgame speech would have been had the Reds lost.

On paper, the bullpen should have been fried. Because of how MLB handled the Speedway Classic over the weekend and then Nick Lodolo exited the game with a blister on the very next day, the Reds essentially had to conduct back-to-back bullpen games.

Big leaguers and managers try not to make excuses, but this was another level of challenge that the Reds’ bullpen was facing.

“That’s tough,” Francona said.

“Not an ideal situation,” said closer Emilio Pagán.

“Realistically, it’s maybe not the best,” said right-hander Scott Barlow.

But on Monday, the Reds found a way to scratch together a 3-2 win over the Cubs on a day where Cincinnati sh

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