Reds 4, Cubs 1
Reds 4, Cubs 1: Jay Bruce had two hits and two RBIs and Mat Latos pitched seven strong innings to help visiting Cincinnati claim the rubber match of the three-game series.
Latos (1-0) struck out five and limited the Cubs to one run and five hits in his third start of the season, improving to 4-0 in five career outings at Wrigley Field. Aroldis Chapman pitched around a two-out double in a scoreless ninth for his 14th save. Devin Mesoraco went 1-for-4 to extend his hitting streak to eight games but ended his franchise-record-tying stretch of five straight contests with a home run.
Chicago starter Edwin Jackson (5-8) lost to the Reds for the first time in three meetings this season, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks over 5 1/3 innings. Starlin Castro went 2-for-4 and drove in the lone run for the Cubs.
The Reds jumped on Jackson in the first when Bruce hooked an RBI double into the right-field corner, but it remained a 1-0 game thanks to the Cubs cutting down Joey Votto at the plate on the back end of the play. Castro tied it with an RBI single up the middle in the fourth, but the Cubs left two men on.
Cincinnati broke it open with a three-run sixth highlighted by RBI doubles from Votto and Bruce and Skip Schumaker's squeeze bunt. The Cubs managed only two baserunners the rest of the way.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Reds 2B Brandon Phillips (bruised right heel) was a late scratch from the starting lineup and has missed three straight games. … Castro picked up his 45th RBI of the season, surpassing his total from all of 2013. … Cincinnati CF Billy Hamilton went 0-for-5, ending his 12-game hitting streak.