Cubs 9, Reds 0
CINCINNATI -- Anthony Rizzo homered twice and Jason Hammel allowed only three hits in seven innings as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Cincinnati Reds 9-0 in the finale of a four-game series on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
Chicago (14-5) scored a combined 38 runs in the four-game series and now heads back to Wrigley Field off to their best start since 1969.
Cubs second baseman Tommy La Stella made his first start in the leadoff spot and went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles and his first homer.
Alfredo Simon (0-2) returned from injury but struggled for Cincinnati (9-10), which now has lost nine of its last 10 to Chicago.
Simon was scratched from his last start due to right biceps tendinitis which he said affected his arm angle. The result was eight earned runs and two homers in 2 2/3 innings.
But the Cubs jumped on Simon again on Sunday when La Stella doubled and scored on Jason Heyward's single putting them ahead 1-0 in the first. Heyward went 4-for-5 with a double and three RBIs.
Then, on a 1-2 pitch, Rizzo crushed his seventh home run to center, a two-run shot to make the score 3-0.
Rizzo's home run was reviewed for possible fan interference but the ruling stood, giving the Cubs first baseman four homers in five games.
There was no doubt about Rizzo's home run in his next at-bat which traveled 414 feet into the grassy area in center in the third inning. The two-run blast made the score 7-0 and gave Rizzo 109 career homers to move him into 18th place on the club's all-time list.
It was 8-0 when Simon exited after just 2 2/3 innings after allowing eight earned runs and two homers over 74 pitches.
La Stella capped a fine afternoon with a homer leading off the sixth inning off Drew Hayes making the score 9-0.
Hammel was in control throughout his six innings, giving up only three hits with two walks and seven strikeouts, joining Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester with 3-0 marks to begin the season.
NOTES: The Cubs started a season 14-5 or better for the third time in franchise history. They were 14-5 in 1969 and 16-3 in 1907. ... In a scoring change from Saturday's game, a throwing error by Cubs 3B Addison Russell in the eighth inning was changed to a single for Reds SS Zack Cozart. ... Reds CF Billy Hamilton who missed two games with a wrist injury, entered Sunday's game in the seventh. ... Reds RHP Anthony DeSclafani had a successful 60-pitch rehab start for Pensacola on Saturday. His next start will be April 28 at Class A Dayton.