Reds 7, Cubs 5
The Cincinnati Reds broke a tie game with two runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the Chicago Cubs away 7-5 on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds scored single runs in the first three innings before Chicago tied the score 3-3 in the fifth. Jay Bruce then hit his 17th home run in the sixth and Chris Valaika came through with an RBI single in the seventh.
The Cubs didn’t go down quietly, as Kosuke Fukudome hit a first pitch breaking ball from Arthur Rhodes into the right field seats to bring in Geovany Soto and tie the game 5-5 in the top of the eighth.
Cincinnati then roughed up Sean Marshall on RBI singles from Ramon Hernandez and Johnny Gomes.
Francisco Cordero came on for his 35th save of the year.
Logan Ondrusek picked up the win, pitching 2/3 of an inning in relief, while Marshall (6-5) took the loss.
Cincinnati starter Travis Wood got the hook after five innings. He gave up three runs on 10 hits, striking out four while walking three.
Casey Coleman went six innings for the Cubs, allowing eight hits and three earned runs, including Bruce’s home run.
Drew Stubbs had three hits and scored three runs for the Reds and Ramon Hernandez also had three hits and an RBI.
Chicago stranded 10 runners on base.