Chicago, IL – The Cincinnati Reds used a four-run eighth inning to beat the Chicago Cubs, 6-4, in the middle installment of a three- game series.
Shin-Soo Choo hit a solo homer for the Reds, who have won the first two games of this set to record their first road series victory of the year. Zack Cozart, Jay Bruce, Todd Frazier, Jack Hannahan and Devin Mesoraco added an RBI apiece.
Cincinnati starter Tony Cingrani gave up four runs on three hits while striking out five over six innings for Cincinnati, which has won eight straight at Wrigley Field. Logan Ondrusek (2-0) tossed a scoreless seventh to pick up the win.
Alfonso Soriano hit a pair of two-run homers for the Cubs, who have dropped three in a row.
Jeff Samardzija allowed two runs -- one earned -- on four hits over while striking out five over six innings. Carlos Marmol (2-2) was charged with three runs while failing to record an out in the eighth.
"The definition of a good lineup is that they make you throw a lot of pitches. They're grind you down, foul balls off, especially your out pitches," Samardzija said.
Holding a 4-2 lead, the Cubs brought in Marmol to start the eighth. Cozart and Joey Votto walked before Brandon Phillips was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs. Hector Rondon then took over for Marmol.
Bruce greeted Rondon with an RBI single to left-center field and Frazier followed with a sacrifice fly to tie the game. Xavier Paul was intentionally walked to fill the bags again. Pinch-hitter Hannahan worked a walk to force in the go-ahead run and Mesoraco's pinch-hit sac fly made it a 6-4 game.
"We manufactured runs (in the eighth)," Cozart said.
Jonathan Broxton and Aroldis Chapman each tossed a scoreless inning of relief to secure the victory. Chapman picked up his seventh save of the season.
Choo hit the first pitch of the game over the wall in left.
Soriano responded with a homer of his own in the bottom half of the first. With two outs, Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch and Soriano then cleared the wall in left to make it 2-1 Cubs.
Cincinnati scored a run in the third to tie the game. Choo walked, moved to second on Samardzija's throwing error and scored on Cozart's single to center.
Chicago took the lead back in the bottom half. Rizzo hit a two-out double and scored on Soriano's blast to left.
Game Notes
The Reds went 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight ... Votto had two of Cincinnati's six hits ... Marmol's appearance in the eighth was his 453rd relief appearance with the Cubs, snapping a tie with Lee Smith for the franchise record.
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