Reds 7, Cubs 4
CHICAGO -- Joey Votto went 2-for-5 with a three-run, ninth-inning homer and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 7-4 on Wednesday.
The first baseman's 27th home run of the season drove in center fielder Jason Bourgeois and right fielder Jay Bruce as the Reds took the series from the Cubs.
Cubs closer Hector Rondon (5-3) gave up the two-out shot and suffered the loss.
The Reds (55-77) have won two of their last three and the Cubs (75-56) lost for the sixth time in eight games.
Reds right-handed starter Raisel Iglesias produced his seventh straight quality start and snapped a two-game losing streak but had no decision. He allowed two runs and three hits, struck out 10, walked two in seven innings and departed with a 4-2 lead.
Right-handed reliever J.J. Hoover came on in the eighth and gave up a two-out, two-run homer to Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant that forced a 4-4 tie.
Hoover still picked up the win and improved to 7-0 with his one-inning effort.
Reds left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman allowed two baserunners in the ninth but no runs as he collected his 27th save of the year.
Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez went 2-for-3 plus a walk, scored once and drove in a run. Second baseman Brandon Phillips was 3-for-5.
Bourgeois gave the Reds an instant 1-0 lead with a leadoff home run against Cubs starter Jason Hammel in the first inning. He sent a 1-0 pitch to the left-field bleachers for his second leadoff homer of the season.
In the Reds' second, Suarez singled to right with one out and drove in catcher Brayan Pena from second base.
Cubs second baseman Tommy La Stella cut the deficit to one run in the third with his first home run of the season -- a two-out blast to right on a 1-0 count.
La Stella, appearing in only his ninth game since a nearly season-long stint on the disabled list, collected his second major league homer and first since Aug. 8, 2014, with the Atlanta Braves.
In the fourth, Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo forced a 2-2 tie with long drive to left center with the bases empty for his 27th home run of the season.
The Reds jumped back ahead in the fifth when Iglesias lined a one-out triple to deep right center and drove in Suarez for a 3-2 lead.
Hammel then put two runners on in the sixth and departed. Cubs right-handed reliever Trevor Cahill gave up a groundout to Pena that drove in Votto for a 4-2 lead.
The run was credited to Hammel, who allowed four runs and seven hits and struck out four through five-plus innings.
NOTES: Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Chicago Cubs combined with a St. Louis Cardinals' win officially eliminated the Cincinnati Reds from NL Central title contention. ... C Ramon Cabrera, called up Tuesday from Triple-A Louisville, will be the ninth Reds player to make his major league debut this season. ... The Reds have an off-day in Cincinnati before opening a three-game weekend series against Milwaukee. RHP Keyvius Sampson (2-2, 6.43 ERA) goes against the Brewers Matt Garza (6-14, 5.56 ERA). ... Chicago went 19-9 in August, tied with St. Louis for third-best NL record for the month. The Cubs have played .500 or better ball in every month this season. Winning records in June, July and August gave them three consecutive winning months since 2008. ... With a month left in the season, Cubs CF Dexter Fowler already owned a career mark with 86 runs scored coming into Wednesday's game. ... The Cubs have a day off in Chicago on Thursday, then open a weekend series against the Diamondbacks on Friday. Chicago will send LHP Jon Lester (8-10, 3.59) against an Arizona pitcher to be named.