Reds 7, Cubs 4
The Cincinnati Reds exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning to defeat the visiting Chicago Cubs 7-4 on Monday night.
After a two-run homer by Carlos Pena in the sixth gave Chicago a 4-0 lead, the Reds stormed back in the bottom half as nine consecutive batters reached base against Carlos Zambrano (4-2) and Marcos Mateo. Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce put together three straight RBI singles, and Scott Rolen followed with an RBI double to tie it.
Bruce scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Mateo, and Jonny Gomes capped the barrage with his seventh home run, a two-run shot to right center.
The outburst made a winner of Homer Bailey (3-0), who had allowed only one run in his first two starts this season before the Cubs got to him for a pair in the fifth. Bailey worked through the sixth, and allowed three earned runs, six hits and three walks.
Relievers Sam LeCure, Bill Bray and Francisco Cordero kept the Cubs at bay as Cordero picked up his eighth save.
Zambrano lasted 5 1/3 innings, and allowed six runs, six hits and three walks.
Chicago's Marlon Byrd extended his hitting streak to a career-long 16 games.