Cubs 9, Reds 2
CHICAGO -- Jorge Soler went 2-for-2 while Jason Heyward and Kris Bryant each collected two RBIs as the Chicago Cubs scored early and often in a 9-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.
Chicago (7-1) clinched its third straight series while Cincinnati (5-3) suffered its second consecutive loss.
Wednesday's game -- only the second at home for the Cubs -- was played in brisk conditions with a first pitch temperature of 43 degrees and the wind blowing in.
Reds starter Alfredo Simon (0-1) lasted two-thirds of an inning after allowing five runs in his second start of the year.
Cubs starter John Lackey improved to 2-0 in his second straight outing of six innings or more as Chicago won its fourth straight.
He worked into the seventh when Scott Schebler tripled to open the inning and trimmed the deficit to 9-2 on Ivan DeJesus' grounder to short.
Lackey left with two out in favor of right-handed reliever Trevor Cahill after giving up two earned runs on six hits, walking three and striking out seven.
Lackey loaded the bases with no outs in a 53-minute first inning but escaped with just one run allowed.
Billy Hamilton sent a first-pitch double down the right field line to open the game. He reached third on Eugenio Suarez's single to right and scored on Jay Bruce's one-out sacrifice fly to center.
The Cubs loaded the bases in the bottom of the first and matched the Reds when Simon walked Kris Bryant to bring in Dexter Fowler from third with one out.
Chicago scored four more times in the inning for a 5-1 lead. Miguel Montero lined a single to left that brought home Ben Zobrist. Soler's sacrifice fly to left delivered Anthony Rizzo, and Addison Russell's single to right brought home Bryant.
Even Lackey got in the act, lacing a base hit to right that score Montero from second while chasing Simon.
Chicago added a pair in the third off reliever Dan Straily. Jason Heyward singled home Montero and Soler with two outs after the Cubs again loaded the bases.
Reds right-hander Keyvius Sampson entered in the fourth and gave up two more runs. Bryant greeted him with his first home of the season -- a solo shot to left on an 2-0 pitch -- while Montero later scored from third with two outs on Sampson's wild pitch.
NOTES: Reds RHP Jon Moscot (strained left intercostal muscle) made a rehab start for Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. He worked 5 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and five earned runs while striking out six. ... RHP Anthony DeSclafani (left oblique) threw 45 pitches in a Wednesday bullpen session at Wrigley Field. ...Thursday's expected start for Brandon Phillips would be his 1,480th all-time with the Reds, tying Dan Driessen for eighth on the team's all-time list. ... The Cubs led the majors with 38 walks entering Wednesday's action, but they had issued the fewest (nine). ... The Cubs send RHP Jason Hammel (0-0, 1.50 ERA) against Reds RHP Raisel Iglesias (1-0, 2.31) in Thursday's series finale.