Reds 8, Cubs 2
Miguel Cairo hit a grand slam and Edinson Volquez made a strong return as the Cincinnati Reds sent the visiting Chicago Cubs to their eighth straight loss 8-2 on Tuesday.
Drew Stubbs doubled in a run and had two hits for the Reds, who will be attempting to win three in a row for the first time in over three weeks when they close out the series on Wednesday.
The Reds were already up 4-1 in the seventh when lefthander John Grabow loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. Cairo came up with one out and turned on a 1-1 fastball on the inside corner, smashing it down the left field line for his second homer of the season and turning the game into a rout.
Volquez (4-2), who was banished to the minors with a 6.35 ERA after getting pounded by the Cleveland Indians on May 22, returned Tuesday and scattered seven hits while allowing one run in seven innings.
Doug Davis (0-5) lost his fifth straight start for Chicago, which has dropped 10 of its last 11 overall.