Cubs 6, Reds 3
CHICAGO -- Miguel Montero went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run, and Dexter Fowler added a solo shot as the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-3 Thursday.
Right-hander Michael Lorenzen (1-2) took his second consecutive loss as the Reds saw a four-game winning streak end in the opener of the four-game Wrigley Field series.
The victory was the fourth in five games for the Cubs (32-26).
Cubs left-hander Travis Wood (3-2) worked 2 1/3 innings for the victory after relieving starter Tsuyoshi Wada in the fourth. Five Cubs pitchers pitched a combined six scoreless innings of two-hit ball. Hector Rondon worked the ninth for his 11th save.
Predictions of heavy precipitation didn't pan out, and only the final innings of the game were played in a light rain.
Lorenzen landed in quick trouble when Montero's blast to right-center gave the Cubs a 3-0 lead in the first inning. The Reds starter gave up a one-out double to first baseman Anthony Rizzo, walked third baseman Kris Bryant and then surrendered the homer -- the catcher's eighth of the season -- on a 3-2 pitch.
The Reds (27-32) got two runs back in the second. Lorenzen tagged Wada for a two-out triple to right to drive in catcher Brayan Pena and shortstop Eugenio Suarez, just called up from Triple-A Louisville.
Fowler opened the third by taking Lorenzen's 1-0 pitch to the right field bleachers for a 4-2 lead. It was the center fielder's seventh homer of the season.
Reds left fielder Chris Dominguez homered to left to start the fourth, trimming the Cubs' lead to 4-3. That also spelled the end for Wada.
Wada, who pitched 3 2/3 innings his previous time out, worked three-plus innings Thursday and allowed three runs and four hits while striking out four and walking two.
Bryant padded the lead in the fifth with a one-out double to the left field corner that scored second baseman Addison Russell for a 5-3 Chicago lead.
A walk to Fowler then loaded the bases and marked the end for Lorenzen.
Facing reliever Burke Badenhop, left fielder Chris Coghlan bounced a weak grounder in front of the plate that was mishandled by Pena for an error. That allowed Coghlan to reach base while Rizzo scored from third for a 6-3 lead.
Lorenzen worked 4 1/3 innings, allowed five hits and six runs (five earned), struck out six and walked three.
Thursday's game was the first with all seats in the park available. The right field bleachers -- the last piece of an outfield project that included new seating and two video boards -- opened for the first time.
NOTES: The Reds kicked off a six-game trip that includes four games in Chicago followed by a two-game visit to Detroit. ... Five members of the Reds' Opening Day lineup missed the series opener with injuries: C Devin Mesoraco (left hip), 2B Brandon Phillips (left groin), SS Zack Cozart (right knee), LF Marlon Byrd (right wrist) and CF Billy Hamilton (left wrist). ... Cozart sustained a season-ending knee injury while trying to beat out a hit in Wednesday's 5-2 win over the Phillies. ... The Reds send RHP Johnny Cueto (4-4, 2.64 ERA) against Cubs RHP Jason Hamel (5-2, 2.76 ERA) on Friday.