Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) – Jonathan Herrera singled home the go-
ahead run in the 11th inning as the Chicago Cubs took a 7-3 win over the
Cincinnati Reds to open a three-game set.
Anthony Rizzo was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored and David
Ross added a two-run double for the Cubs, who came into the series off a four-
game split with Pittsburgh.
Jon Lester allowed three runs on five hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts over
six innings for Chicago, while Jason Motte (1-0) got out of a bases-loaded jam
in the bottom of the 10th to pick up the win.
Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Zack Cozart each drove in a run for the Reds,
who have lost their last two games.
Mike Leake gave up three runs on four hits with a walk and nine strikeouts in
seven innings on the mound for Cincinnati.
In the 11th inning with Burke Badenhop (0-1) on the mound, Rizzo singled with
one out and Kris Bryant followed with a base hit. Herrera then ripped a single
to right for a 4-3 lead.
After Starlin Castro was intentionally walked, Ross punched a double off the
wall in right-center to plate two more runs, and Wood smoked a broken-bat
liner back to the mound that went off the glove of Badenhop to score another
run for a 7-3 lead.
Hector Rondon worked a flawless bottom of the 11th to finish off the game.
Cincinnati scored in the first as Billy Hamilton singled, stole second, moved
to third on a wild pitch and came home when Votto grounded out for a 1-0 lead.
The Reds made it a 2-0 game in the third when Hamilton again singled to
leadoff, and again stole second base. After Votto struck out, Hamilton swiped
third and later scored on a Phillips groundout.
Chicago, though, tied the contest in the fourth as Dexter Fowler doubled to
start the frame and scored when Rizzo clubbed his second home run of the
season.
Cincinnati went back up a run in the fourth after Marlon Byrd led off with a
double, moved to third on a Brayan Pena groundout and scored on Cozart’s
sac fly for a 3-2 lead.
Coghlan led off the Cubs seventh with his third home of the year to tie the
game once again.
Game Notes
The Reds were hitless in 14 attempts with runners in scoring position and
stranded eight runners … Hamilton has 12 stolen bases on the season … Jake
Arrieta pitches for Chicago on Saturday, and Anthony DeSclafani takes the
mound for Cincinnati.
