Red Sox blank hapless Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- The Boston Red Sox still have plenty of decisions to make in terms of their postseason pitching staff. But, left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez is pitching himself into the conversation.

Mitch Moreland hit a three-run home run and Rodriguez allowed only three hits through 7 2/3 innings, lifting the Red Sox to a 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.

The win reduced Boston's magic number to five to clinch the American League East title. The Red Sox (90-64) lead the New York Yankees by four games.

"We're playing good ball," Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez said. "We're getting on base. Getting clutch hits."

The Yankees defeated Toronto 5-1 on Saturday to clinch a wild-card spot.

Rodriguez (6-6) had six strikeouts and walked two.

It was his longest outing since May 21. Rodriguez has made six straight quality starts on the road and four consecutive starts of two earned runs or fewer.

"He maintained his stuff all the way through seven innings," Boston manager John Farrell said. "He used three pitches at both sides of the plate. Using his secondary pitches to make the fastball even better."

Cincinnati (66-89) committed two errors and had a passed ball while losing its fifth straight game.

Rookie right-hander Robert Stephenson (5-6) made his 10th start of the season for the Reds and was charged with two earned runs in six innings.

Xander Bogaerts led off Saturday's game with a double and advanced to third on a passed ball by Tucker Barnhart. Bogaerts scored on a sacrifice fly by Brock Holt to put the Red Sox ahead 1-0.

Rodriguez did not allow a hit until Joey Votto's single with one out in the fourth.

"He's very comfortable on the mound," Vazquez said. "He has a good feeling out there. We're on the same page. (Three times) I just put down whatever you want to throw."

Boston's defense helped Rodriguez out.

Votto was thrown out trying to reach second after his single by Andrew Benintendi.

It was Benintendi's 11th outfield assist this season, tying him for third in the American League.

Scooter Gennett singled leading off the fifth to extend his hitting streak to a season-high seven games. But, he was erased on an inning-ending 3-6-3 double play.

Stephenson's fielding error on Holt's grounder back to the mound opened the floodgates in the sixth.

Benintendi walked, then Moreland followed with a three-run blast to center, putting Boston ahead 4-0.

It was Moreland's 20th homer of the season, and it snapped a 0-for-19 skid.

"He threw a changeup that split the plate in half, top of the zone," Moreland said. "I got the barrel on it. It gave us some breathing room."

Reds manager Bryan Price believed Stephenson's error on a routine grounder, contributed to his poor location on the Moreland homer.

"That's one the challenges of this game when you make a mistake, get beyond it," Price said. "That's part of the game. It can linger. That's not an excuse. That may have had nothing to do with what followed."

Benintendi, a Cincinnati area native, prompted cheers from his hometown fans with an RBI single in the seventh to make the score 5-0.

Reds right-hander Luke Farrell, son of the Red Sox manager, pitched the ninth inning, marking the first time a major-league player has faced his manager father since the Chicago Cubs' Moises Alou faced his dad, Felipe's San Francisco Giants, in 2004.

Farrell walked two in a scoreless frame, then offered a subtle tip of his cap toward his dad in the dugout as he walked off.

"There was a lot of internal conflict going on there," John Farrell said. "It was somewhat surreal. It's a proud day. Class move by Bryan (Price) to put him in there."

NOTES: Boston Red Sox RF Mookie Betts was scratched from the lineup with a left foot contusion. Betts fouled a pitch off the top of his foot in his second at-bat on Friday, according to manager John Farrell. Brock Holt started in RF. Betts is expected back in the lineup on Sunday. ... Cincinnati Reds CF Billy Hamilton was given a day off on Saturday. He returned to the lineup Friday after missing 13 games with a fractured left thumb. ... The Reds honored RHP Bronson Arroyo prior to Saturday's game. He is retiring following the season after 14 seasons, including three with the Red Sox.

Mets ride Nimmo (2 HRs) to victory over Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- On Nov. 1, 2015, Matt Harvey and Jeurys Familia each pitched for the New York Mets in the ninth inning of a World Series elimination game at Citi Field.

There is no better way to measure how far the Mets -- and Familia and, in particular, Harvey -- have fallen in the last 685 days than what happened Thursday night, when the incremental progress Harvey and Familia made in a nondescript late-season game was overshadowed by the exploits of a 22-year-old who was in the minor leagues in 2015.

Brandon Nimmo enjoyed his first two-homer game as a major leaguer Thursday, when Harvey posted his first win in more than three months by pitching five innings in a 7-2 victory over the visiting Cincinnati Reds.

Nimmo started in the cleanup spot for the second time as a big leaguer despite entering the game with only one homer and five extra-base hits in 95 at-bats this season. He had three extra-base hits Thursday. Nimmo doubled and scored in the second, homered leading off the fifth and completed the Mets' scoring with a two-run homer in the sixth.

Nimmo had just two two-homer games in the minors, both of which he produced last season in the hitter-friendly Triple-A Pacific Coast League.

"As I'm going around first base, I said to myself 'I can't believe I hit two home runs in a major league game,'" Nimmo said. "I was in shock going around the bases."

Those who remember the Mets of 2015 might have been shocked by the reaction to Harvey's workmanlike effort. Harvey (5-4) allowed two runs, five hits and one walk while striking out one in five innings in winning for the first time since May 28.

"Not where I want to be, but definitely moving the right way," Harvey said.

Harvey's career has been backsliding since 2015, when he went 13-8 with a 2.71 ERA in 29 regular-season starts in 2015 before posting a 3.04 ERA in the postseason and carrying a shutout into the ninth inning of Game 5 of the World Series.

He was lifted after allowing the first two Kansas City players to reach and Familia eventually allowed the tying runs to score. The Royals went on to win the game, and the World Series, in 12 innings.

Harvey went 4-10 with a 4.85 ERA in 17 starts last season before undergoing surgery to repair thoracic outlet syndrome. He returned last Saturday after missing more than two months with a right shoulder injury.

"(2015) was completely different -- I was pitching the entire year, we were on such a roll in September that there wasn't really much that was going to get in our way," Harvey said. "I understand it's a process. I don't want to jump out there and immediately try and be what I know I'm capable of being eventually."

Josh Smoker struck out the side in the sixth, after which Familia allowed one hit in two scoreless innings. Such low-leverage situations are unfamiliar to Familia, who helped the Mets reach the wild-card game last season by posting a team-record 51 saves.

But he has been slow to round into form after missing three months due to a blood clot in his right shoulder and entered Thursday having allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings since being activated from the disabled list on Aug. 26.

"He's one of those projects here at the end of the year, we've got to let him go pitch and we've got to get him to throw a number of pitches so that his arm strength builds," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "He was a huge factor on our club and it's nice to see him back out there."

Dominic Smith had an RBI single in the second, Jose Reyes laced a two-run single in the fourth and Juan Lagares homered immediately after Nimmo in the fifth for the Mets (61-79), who have won three of four.

Adam Duvall had a sacrifice fly in the first for the Reds and Philip Ervin hit an RBI double in the second for the Reds (61-80), who had their three-game winning streak snapped. Scott Schebler had two doubles.

"I thought we put the ball in play hard a lot," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Just didn't have anything to show for it."

Rookie right-hander Tyler Mahle (0-2) took the loss in his third big league start after allowing three runs, six hits and four walks while striking out two in four innings.

"For a kid that's pitching in September in the big leagues for the first time, it just seemed like a good time to get him out of there," Price said.

NOTES: Mets RHP Noah Syndergaard (torn right lat) made his second rehab start, allowing three runs in two innings for Class A Brooklyn. ... The Mets announced INF Wilmer Flores (broken nose) will miss the rest of the season. ... The Reds placed CF Billy Hamilton (broken left thumb) on the 10-day disabled list. The club hopes Hamilton, who was injured during a bunt attempt Wednesday, will return this season. ... Reds LHP Amir Garrett, who played college basketball at nearby St. John's, will make his first major league start since June 20 on Friday.

Reds' Mahle, Mets' Harvey open series

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- NEW YORK -- The Cincinnati Reds hope rookie right-hander Tyler Mahle can continue building a foundation when he heads to the mound Thursday night.

The New York Mets are just looking for a sign, any sign, that veteran right-hander Matt Harvey is capable of rebuilding his career after two injury-riddled seasons.

The pair of pitchers with similar yet disparate goals are scheduled to meet Thursday night, when the Reds visit the Mets in the opener of a four-game series at Citi Field.

The rebuilding Reds and Mets each earned wins on Wednesday. Host Cincinnati (61-79) completed a three-game sweep of the NL Central- and wild card-contending Milwaukee Brewers with a 7-1 victory. New York (60-79) beat the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 in a game shortened to six innings by rain.

Mahle (0-1, 2.45 ERA) will be making his third big league start since being promoted from Triple-A Louisville on Aug. 27. Harvey (4-4, 5.97) is starting for the second time since being activated from the disabled list last Saturday.

The 22-year-old Mahle is looking to cap a breakout season by laying claim to a rotation spot in 2018. Mahle didn't factor into the decision in his most recent start last Saturday despite blanking the Pittsburgh Pirates over six innings in the Reds' 5-0 loss.

The scoreless outing was highlighted by a fifth inning in which Mahle wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam. He then ended his night by tossing a hitless sixth and reaching the 100-pitch mark (105) for the 11th time in 26 starts this season among the Reds, Louisville and Double-A Pensacola.

"This is why he's here," Reds manager Bryan Price told reporters afterward. "He's here in September to get some experience that will help him moving forward, especially moving into next year. Getting him a chance to get up over 100 pitches, pitch out of his own issues there in the fifth and go back out for a nice sixth inning was really nice to see."

The Mets are desperate to say something nice about Harvey, who took the loss last Saturday after giving up seven runs over a career-low two innings as the Mets fell to the Houston Astros, 12-8.

The start was the first in the majors since June 14 for Harvey, who was sidelined by a stress injury to the scapula in his right shoulder. Despite subpar numbers on a rehab stint (a 4.63 ERA in three starts between Class A Brooklyn and Double-A Binghamton) and last Saturday's hiccup, Harvey said he feels good physically and that he'll be fine once he modifies mechanics that have grown rusty from a lack of use.

"I'm fully confident that within the next start, the start after that or whatever it is, by the end of this season, I'll be comfortable on the mound and throwing to hitters," Harvey told reporters last Saturday. "There's not one doubt in my mind that with health, mechanics will come and so will success."

All three elements have been hard to come by the last two seasons for Harvey, whose 2016 campaign ended when he underwent surgery to repair thoracic outlet syndrome in July. He is just 8-14 with a 5.35 ERA in 31 starts since the start of last year after opening his career by going 25-18 with a 2.53 ERA in 65 starts from 2012 through 2015. Harvey missed the 2014 season recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Mahle has never faced the Mets. Harvey is 3-0 with a 2.48 ERA in five career starts against the Reds.

Castillo strikes out career-high 10 as Reds rout Brewers

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds knew they were getting a quality pitcher when they acquired right-hander Luis Castillo in a trade with the Miami Marlins in January. But the 24-year-old has exceeded most expectations and now appears penciled into the Reds' rotation for 2018.

On Wednesday afternoon, Castillo allowed one run with a career-high 10 strikeouts in his final start of the season, lifting Cincinnati to a 7-1 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in the finale of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

"We knew what we were getting stuff-wise," Reds manager Bryan Price said of Castillo. "He's a tough kid. Hard worker. Tremendous confidence. He's the real deal."

Castillo (3-7) retired 22 of the last 24 batters he faced during his eight-inning stint. He threw 111 pitches on Wednesday, his second-most this season.

"After the first inning, he eliminated their ability to get the barrel on the ball," Price said. "He was outstanding. How many guys can come up from Double-A and do what he's done?"

Among his seven losses, Castillo (3-7) twice was the victim of blown saves and absorbed a 1-0 loss to Pittsburgh.

Price confirmed earlier in the week that this was Castillo's final start. He finished with 169 1/3 innings between Double-A and the majors this season. Castillo had 131 2/3 innings in the minors last year.

"I feel really happy that I had a great year," Castillo said through a translator. "I'm going to take this offseason, go back to the Dominican, and work hard."

Zack Cozart and Jose Peraza each homered for the Reds (61-79), who swept the Brewers for the first time since May 10-12, 2013, at Great American Ball Park.

"They outplayed us," said Brewers manager Craig Counsell. "We didn't have a good series. Today, we ran into a good pitching performance. We didn't get anything going against their starting pitching."

Neil Walker hit a solo home run for Milwaukee (72-68), which has lost four of its past five games and trails the first-place Chicago Cubs by four games in the National League Central standings.

The Cubs played at Pittsburgh on Wednesday night. Milwaukee begins a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday.

Perhaps, Milwaukee was looking ahead?

"We had good energy every day before the games," Counsell said. "It's something I was aware of. We've struggled holding this team down offensively. We knew going in that they could score some runs."

Milwaukee collected only four hits off Castillo -- two in the first inning.

Castillo struck out three batters in the first but also allowed Walker's 13th home run of the season to open the scoring.

It was the first and only lead for the Brewers in the series -- and that was all the offense Milwaukee could muster against Castillo.

"They're a really good team," Castillo said. "I just wanted to compete and make my pitches. I had really good command."

Brewers starter Matt Garza (6-9) allowed five earned runs on six hits over 2 2/3 innings.

The Reds collected three consecutive singles in the third, including an RBI hit by Adam Duvall to tie the score at 1.

A fourth straight hit loaded the bases with one out and Garza walked Scott Schebler to force in the go-ahead run.

"Matt just had some bad luck," Counsell said. "I don't think he had too many pitches he wished he had back -- maybe the walk to Schebler. They had some jam shots and the double play we couldn't turn. I thought he pitched OK."

Walker couldn't handle Hernan Perez's throw to complete a potential inning-ending double play on Peraza's grounder, allowing two more runners raced home giving the Reds a 4-1 lead.

Cozart collected his 18th home run, a solo shot off Jeremy Jeffress in the seventh inning. Peraza homered off Corey Knebel in the eighth.

"It sucks, but we still have three weeks left," Garza said. "We can turn it around and get back in this thing. We've got the off day tomorrow to regroup and get right back at it."

NOTES: Reds CF Billy Hamilton left the game in the third inning with a fractured left thumb, which isn't necessarily season-ending. ... Reds recalled RHP Luke Farrell from Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday. Farrell is the son of Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell. ... Reds RHP Sal Romano will start Sunday against the New York Mets at Citi Field. His turn in the rotation was pushed back due to a cut on his right index finger. ... Brewers RHP Taylor Williams made his major league debut in the eighth inning, retiring both batters he faced.

Cubs brush off loss to Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- The Thursday night loss was a tough one to swallow for the Chicago Cubs, but they maintained the usual positive spin.

"We're the team in first place," Chicago starter Jake Arrieta said. "We won five in a row, lost a tough one tonight. We go into Philly still feeling pretty good about where we're at."

The Cubs led by a run through seven innings, but Jose Peraza drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a pinch-hit, bases-loaded double in the eighth, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-2 victory at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds avoided a sweep in the three-game series.

With two outs in the eighth and Pedro Strop (3-4) on the mound for the Cubs, Eugenio Suarez was intentionally walked to load the bases. Peraza crushed a ball to center that eluded Ian Happ and bounced over the wall for a ground-rule double, driving in two runs to put Cincinnati ahead.

"He's a really good pitcher with a good fastball," Peraza said of Strop. "I worked in the cage getting ready for an at-bat. Just trying to see the ball and get a good swing."

Rather than double-switch for a more adept center fielder in Albert Almora Jr., Cubs manager Joe Maddon chose to keep Happ in center. Replays indicated that Peraza's drive would have been a tough catch for anyone.

"It would have been a tremendous play," Maddon said. "Two outs and nobody on, and (Strop is) throwing the ball great. That was the last thing we saw coming."

Suarez later scored on Strop's wild pitch to give the Reds a two-run cushion.

Raisel Iglesias blanked the Cubs in the ninth for his 24th save.

Michael Lorenzen (8-2) struck out three in a scoreless top of the eighth to earn the victory. Lorenzen was hit hard in two of his previous three outings.

"Good to see him back out there being the vintage Lorenzen," Reds manager Bryan Price said.

Happ homered for Chicago (68-58), which had its five-game winning streak snapped. The Cubs lead the second-place Milwaukee Brewers by three games in the National League Central heading into a three-game weekend series against the Phillies.

"We still won the series, we've won five of six," Maddon said. "We did a lot of good things again tonight and they got us at the end."

With two outs in the sixth, the Reds chose to intentionally walk Happ after Reds starter Sal Romano fell behind three balls and no strikes. However, Javier Baez came through with a sharp single to left, driving home Kris Bryant to put Chicago ahead 2-1.

Cincinnati (54-74) nearly tied the score in the bottom of the sixth when Zack Cozart singled and sprinted toward home on Joey Votto's double. A perfect relay from Baez nabbed Cozart at home for the first out of the inning.

Romano retired the Cubs in order on only nine pitches in the first inning.

With one out in the second, Happ launched Romano's first pitch into the right field seats, putting the Cubs ahead 1-0. Happ, a University of Cincinnati product, has 19 home runs in 83 games during his rookie season.

Romano yielded two runs, six hits and three walks while striking out seven in seven innings. The bullpen then helped set up a much-needed victory for Cincinnati.

"He was on the attack," Price said of Romano. "He was very aggressive in the zone. He got clipped for a solo homer but was really good after that. Had a nice feel for the changeup and breaking ball."

Arrieta struck out the first four batters he faced and had six through three innings.

There were a couple hard-hit balls in the span. Bryant made a diving catch on Suarez's line drive to end the second inning. Jesse Winker's drive to left field in the third pushed Kyle Schwarber back to the wall.

Arrieta's no-hit bid lasted until the fourth when Votto's one-out RBI single drove home Zack Cozart, who reached second on Bryant's error at third base. The hit tied the score 1-1.

Arrieta allowed one run (unearned), four hits and three walks while striking out eight in 5 2/3 innings.

"Jake was really good tonight," Maddon said. "Stropie was perfect until it all fell apart."

NOTES: Cubs LHP Jon Lester remains on schedule to throw a bullpen session Friday in Philadelphia. He has been on the disabled list with lat tightness and shoulder fatigue. ... Cubs 3B Kris Bryant returned to the lineup after missing the Wednesday game. He was hit on the left hand by a pitch in the ninth inning Tuesday. On Thursday, Bryant went 1-for-3 with a walk and a double. ... Reds C Stuart Turner is expected to go on the paternity list Friday when his wife is scheduled to be induced. ... Reds 1B Joey Votto has reached base in 28 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the major leagues.

Cubs beat Reds for fifth straight win

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- Chicago Cubs left-hander Mike Montgomery believes his future in the major leagues is as a starting pitcher. Manager Joe Maddon agrees. On Wednesday night, Montgomery did nothing to dispel that notion.

Kyle Schwarber hit a three-run home run, Tommy La Stella added a two-run shot, and Montgomery allowed four hits through six innings, lifting the Chicago Cubs to their fifth straight win, a 9-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Montgomery (4-6), who moved into the rotation when Jon Lester went on the disabled list, is considered a candidate to be in the starting rotation for the Cubs in 2018. For now, he is content with his role as a spot starter and reliever.

"Since day one I came over here, they've been telling me I'm a starter," Montgomery said. "I think I am as well. Whatever is best for the team, that's the mentality I've taken. That's how I've been able to transition back and forth."

On Wednesday, Montgomery issued one walk and struck out four. He retired 10 of the final 11 batters. His 89 pitches were the second-most he has thrown this season.

"He's a ground-ball machine," Maddon said. "Fastball command. When he gets ahead in the count, he can force hitters to put the ball in play. I'm not surprised by this at all. He's very capable."

Chicago (68-57) moved to a season-high 11 games over the .500 mark and now owns a season-high 3 1/2-game lead over second-place Milwaukee in the National League Central.

The Cubs played without third baseman Kris Bryant, who was hit on the hand by a pitch during the ninth inning on Tuesday night. But La Stella took over for Bryant at third base and went 1-for-2 with a homer, two RBIs and a walk. He reached base four times.

Cincinnati (53-74) has lost three straight games and has dropped nine of the past 12 series against Chicago.

Joey Votto hit a solo homer in the ninth, his 33rd of the season, off Hector Rondon, helping the Reds avoid their fourth shutout loss this season and third at home.

Cincinnati wasn't finished with Rondon, who allowed back-to-back homers by Eugenio Suarez and Scott Schebler before recording the final out.

It was the 24th homer of the season for both Suarez and Schebler.

"Rondon did what he's supposed to do in that situation," said Maddon. "Throw strikes."

Reds starter Asher Wojciechowski (3-3) needed 35 pitches to get through the first inning. He walked three, including La Stella with the bases loaded to force in a run.

Jason Heyward's RBI single coupled with a throwing error by Reds left fielder Adam Duvall scored two runs, putting the Cubs ahead 3-0.

"Helps when you get a three-run lead before you even go out there," Montgomery said. "The offense has been unbelievable for us the past week or so. Hopefully, we can keep it going."

Heyward came through again in the third when he drove home Anthony Rizzo, who had doubled, with another RBI hit, putting Chicago ahead 4-0.

Wojciechowski allowed eight runs (seven earned) in 3 2/3 innings.

"That first inning set the tone," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "He was up in the zone. You're in the first inning and you're down 3-0, there's not much room for error."

Montgomery induced 11 ground-ball outs, none bigger than one to end the third inning when shortstop Javier Baez made a sliding stab of Votto's hard grounder to start a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning after the Reds had runners on first and second.

"That was unbelievable," Montgomery said. "For him to backhand it, then for us to be able to turn the double play. Such a boost."

Schwarber then launched a three-run, opposite-field homer, his 21st of the season, to make the score 7-0. There was a 1-minute, 14-second crew chief review to determine the ball did clear the left field wall.

"That first half is a complete wash for me," said Schwarber. "I've felt a lot better at the plate recently, hitting the ball hard the last couple of days. Got to take those. Don't worry about the result, worry about the process and hit it where it's at."

Chicago led 9-0 in the fourth after La Stella hit a two-run homer, his third of the season, off right-hander Alejandro Chacin, who was making his major league debut.

"We grew from struggling in the first half," Montgomery said. "It's all about getting to the playoffs. We're completely over last year now. We're having fun."

NOTES: Cubs LHP Jon Lester threw on the side on Wednesday and is expected to throw a bullpen session on Friday in Philadelphia. Next steps will be determined after Friday's bullpen. Lester is on the disabled list with lat tightness and shoulder fatigue. ... Reds RHP Luke Farrell was recalled from Triple-A Louisville and RHP Alejandro Chacin had his contract selected from Louisville. The Reds also optioned OF Phillip Ervin to Triple-A, and RHP Blake Wood was designated for assignment. Farrell allowed one hit over three innings in his Reds debut.

Zobrist fuels Cubs' comeback win over Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- It was the stuff of nightmares for Ben Zobrist, but ultimately the Chicago Cubs produced a dreamy result on Tuesday night.

Zobrist drove in the go-ahead runs with a pinch-hit, two-run double in the seventh inning as the Cubs rallied for a 13-9 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

"It was a relief," said Zobrist, when asked to describe his emotions while standing on second base. "We won, and I was able to contribute something."

Zobrist arrived at Great American Ball Park about an hour before the game, around three hours later than usual.

He spent more than an hour haggling with a rental car company, then fought heavy traffic en route to Cincinnati from his hometown of Nashville, where he spent the off day on Monday.

"I was frustrated for about seven hours today," he said. "I'm just glad I made it."

When it became apparent Zobrist wasn't going to make it to the ballpark on time, Cubs manager Joe Maddon put Ian Happ into the lineup at second base, batting fifth.

When Zobrist finally arrived, Maddon told him, "'You're going to play the role of Dan Johnson tonight.' He was Dan Johnson tonight."

In 2008, Johnson got to the ballpark late due to a delayed flight from the minors then hit a game-tying home run for Maddon's Tampa Bay Rays off the Boston Red Sox's Jonathan Papelbon.

"I've had nightmares about showing up at the ballpark late," Zobrist said. "It won't happen again. (Maddon) said I'm going to be Dan Johnson, I'm going to do something special. I'm glad it worked out."

Zobrist's double and his RBI groundout in the eighth helped the Cubs (67-57) score 13 runs in a four-inning span to move 10 games above .500 for the first time this season.

Javier Baez (2-for-5) also delivered a two-run single in the seventh.

"He can have some really wild at-bats, but he likes the moment, and he came through again," said Maddon.

Hector Rondon (4-1) retired one batter for the win. Wandy Peralta (3-4) allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning for the loss.

Eugenio Suarez homered twice and had a career-high five RBIs, and Jesse Winker and Scooter Gennett each hit solo homers for Cincinnati (53-73).

Winker's long ball off Felix Pena was the first pinch-hit homer of his career.

Reds starter Homer Bailey left after three scoreless innings for precautionary reasons with irritation in the back of his right shoulder.

Bailey, who came off the disabled list June 24 after missing most of the past two seasons with elbow and forearm surgeries, was visited by trainers after walking John Lackey in the third inning but remained in the game.

Bailey did not return for the fourth, however, exiting after 47 pitches. He allowed only one hit and one walk while striking out two.

"We debated about whether he could go back out there, but we knew he shouldn't with the road he's traveled," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We don't have any intention to put him on the DL at this point."

Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton starred at the plate and in the field. He led off the game with a single, stole his 52nd base of the season, and later scored from third on a wild pitch to put Cincinnati ahead 1-0.

In the second, Hamilton prevented the tying run from scoring with a diving catch of Jason Heyward's line drive for the third out. In the third, Hamilton raced in to make a diving catch on Kris Bryant's sinker line drive to end the inning.

Tucker Barnhart drove home Suarez with a double into the right field corner in the second. Gennett's 22nd home run of the season and third in his past eight games made it 3-0.

The Cubs loaded the bases in the fifth against Kevin Shackelford, who took over for Bailey, and scratched across a couple runs before Heyward's two-out RBI single tied the score 3-3. Shackelford allowed three runs, three hits and four walks in 1 2/3 innings.

Suarez's three-run shot, his 22nd home run of the season, handed a three-run lead back to Cincinnati in the fifth.

However, the Reds' bullpen later relinquished the lead, and then some. Cincinnati right-hander Blake Wood allowed five runs in one inning.

"It's hard to watch, especially since we've seen better from him," said Price.

NOTES: In the ninth inning, 1B Anthony Rizzo became the third left-handed position player to play third base for the Cubs, the first since George Decker in 1895. ... Cubs 3B Kris Bryant was hit on the left hand in the ninth inning by Reds RHP Blake Wood. X-rays were negative. ... Reds RHP Scott Feldman, who is on the disabled list for the second time this season due to right knee inflammation, underwent season-ending arthroscopic surgery. ... Cincinnati SS Zack Cozart returned to the lineup after missing two games, and he went 1-for-4. He was hit on the left leg by a pitch on Friday.

Sixth-inning homer binge propels Reds past Braves

(TSX / STATS) -- ATLANTA -- The Cincinnati Reds, flashing their power, backed rookie Sal Romano's longest major league start with a three-homer inning off the Atlanta Braves' R.A. Dickey on the way to a 5-3 victory Friday night.

Adam Duvall, Eugenio Suarez and Jesse Winker hit homers off the 42-year-old Dickey in the sixth and the Reds held off the Braves in Romano's ninth career outing.

The only run off Romano (3-5) came on a second-inning homer by Matt Adams. The 23-year-old right-hander went seven innings after not going past the sixth previously, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out three.

Joey Votto led off the sixth inning with a single and then three of the next four hitters played long ball against Dickey's knuckleball in the Reds' four-run sixth.

Duvall smashed 1-0 a pitch into the left-center-field seats to make it 2-1 with his 29th homer. Then Suarez and rookie Winker went back-to-back one out later.

Suarez, connecting on a 2-0 pitch, hit his 21st home run into the left-field seats and Winker pulled a 2-0 offering just inside the right-field foul pole and just over the wall for his third homer.

Dickey (8-8) struck out a season-high nine while walking one, but allowed eight hits and four runs in six innings.

Of the 22 homers that Dickey has allowed this season, 16 have come at SunTrust Park.

The Braves, down 5-1, scored twice in the eighth inning off reliever Kevin Shackelford, the big blow an RBI double by Tyler Flowers.

Blake Wood got the Reds out of the eighth on one pitch and Rafael Iglesias pitched around a one-out walk in the ninth for his 23rd save.

Adams, who had been homerless since July 23, put the Braves ahead in the second inning with his 17th blast of the season.

NOTES: RHP Scott Feldman, placed on the disabled list by the Reds with right knee inflammation a day after giving up five homers to the Cubs, could be headed to knee surgery. "I think one of the options will be season-ending," Reds manager Bryan Price said. ... Reds SS Zack Cosart left the game in the seventh inning after being hit on the lower left leg by LHP Rex Brothers. ... The Reds activated OF Scott Schebler, out since July 30 with a left shoulder strain. ... The Braves placed OF/INF Danny Santana (left quad strain) on the disabled list and recalled OF/INF Micah Johnson from Triple-A Gwinnett. ... As part of Hank Aaron Heritage Weekend, the Braves wore throwback uniforms from 1974, the year Aaron passed Babe Ruth's home run mark. ... RHP Julio Teheran (7-10, 4.98 ERA) will start for the Braves on Saturday, with rookie RHP Robert Stephenson (0-4, 6.64 ERA) pitching for the Reds.

Cubs' Lester looks to stay hot versus Reds

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(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Jon Lester hopes to resume a positive post-All-Star break run as the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds wrap up a four-game series at Wrigley Field on Thursday.

Lester (8-7, 3.99 ERA) is 3-1 with a 3.26 ERA in six starts since the break with one blip -- allowing four runs (three earned) and seven hits over six innings in a 6-2 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday.

"It's like a start over for us at the break," Lester said recently. "As of now, that stuff is going well. There are some clunkers in there I wish I could take it back or grind through better and have a better outcome."

The Reds counter with ex-Cub right-hander Scott Feldman (7-7, 4.43 ERA).

The Cubs (63-56) will look for a third victory in the series win while the Reds (50-71) seek to avoid their fifth loss in six games.

The pressure at least will be off Joey Votto. The Reds first baseman went 1-for-4 on Wednesday and missed a chance to tie a record held by Ted Williams for the most consecutive games reaching base at least twice.

Votto's hot stretch -- which included a 17-game hitting streak -- was halted at 20 games, leaving intact Williams' 21-game record set in 1948.

"To me, he's the best guy going in baseball right now," Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta told WSCR-AM on Wednesday. "What he is able to do is hit quality pitches for power."

Feldman makes his second start since coming off a 25-day stay on the disabled list caused by right knee inflammation. He is tied with Michael Lorenzen for the Reds' lead in wins, and tied with Tim Adleman for the club lead in starts, and his nine quality starts are a team high.

Feldman pitched for the Cubs in 2013 before a trade to Baltimore. Since then, he has faced the Cubs twice -- both this season, going 1-1 with a 4.66 ERA. He allowed no runs on two hits over seven innings in a 5-0 victory on June 30.

"My hopes are that he'll be able to maintain what we saw those first couple of months, as far as being able to go out there and take the field and do all the little things that he had to do as a pitcher -- field your position, swing the bat, run the bases, et cetera, without too much issue," Reds manager Bryan Price said recently.

Lester is 4-3 with a 3.76 ERA in 14 home starts compared to 4-4, 4.27 in 11 appearances away from Wrigley Field. Lefties are batting only .184 against him while right-handers are hitting .264.

Lester is 4-1 with a 4.79 ERA in 11 career starts against Cincinnati, all coming since he joined the Cubs. Lester is 2-0 with a 3.94 in five Wrigley Field starts against the Reds.

The Cubs continue their homestand with a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays starting Friday.

The Reds next travel to Atlanta for their first games at SunTrust Park. That three-game series also opens Friday.

Wild pitch gives Cubs walk-off win over Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Anthony Rizzo said he was hoping for a break in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds were locked in a tie game Wednesday.

The Chicago first baseman got his wish as Javier Baez scored the winning run on a two-out wild pitch by Reds reliever Blake Wood, giving the Cubs a 7-6 walk-off victory on Wednesday night.

"(Cincinnati catcher) Tucker Barnhart was really good behind there this whole series so far, he's a really good blocker," Rizzo said. "I started throwing out there, 'Come on, just one little passed ball.' It didn't get fully by him, but it was a great read by Javier to score that run."

The Cubs (63-56) posted their fourth walk-off victory of the season and first on a wild pitch. The Reds (50-71) lost on a walk-off wild pitch for the second time on their current road trip.

Baez led off the ninth with a double against Reds reliever Wandy Peralta. Pinch hitter Jon Jay walked on four pitches, and Ben Zobrist advanced the runners to third and second with a fielder's choice grounder.

Wood entered and struck out Albert Almora Jr. on four pitches before he threw the wild pitch to Kris Bryant on a 1-0 count.

"There's not really any margin for error there," Wood said. "You've got to make pitches, and hopefully it works out. Tonight, I just pulled one a little bit too far, and that was it."

Chicago closer Wade Davis (3-1) worked one scoreless inning for the victory. Peralta (3-3) took the loss after yielding one run in 1 1/3 innings.

Rizzo went 2-for-4 with his third career grand slam, hit off Reds right-handed starter Homer Bailey. Rizzo's team-leading 28th home run of the season gave the Cubs a 4-1 first-inning lead.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto saw his bid to match a record held by Ted Williams fall short as he went 1-for-4. Votto had reached base at least twice in a game in 20 consecutive games until Wednesday.

Williams' record, set in 1948, is 21 games.

Neither starter factored into the decision.

Cubs right-hander John Lackey, seeking a win in his sixth straight start, was pulled in the sixth for pinch hitter Tommy La Stella, who doubled home Jason Heyward for a 6-1 lead.

After a shaky start, Lackey ended up allowing just one run and four hits while striking out six and walking three in six innings.

"I didn't have a good feel the first two innings, obviously," Lackey said. "I really had no breaking ball and kind of found that as we went along and got a little better."

Bailey departed after La Stella's hit. Bailey allowed six runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings, walking five and striking out 10 while throwing 109 pitches.

"I just didn't execute those (first-inning) pitches as well as I could have," Bailey said. "Tonight, just like they have all season, our offense did an outstanding job in coming back and showed their heart there. But tonight, our starting pitching lost us the game."

Cincinnati right fielder Phillip Ervin clubbed his first major league hit and home run on a first pitch from reliever Hector Rondon with two outs in the seventh inning.

Zack Cozart followed with a two-run homer to left, driving in Billy Hamilton to cut the margin to 6-4. Rondon was pulled in favor of Brian Duensing, who got Votto to ground out to end the inning.

With one out in the eighth, Reds pinch hitter Adam Duvall forced a 6-6 tie with a two-run homer off Carl Edwards Jr., also driving in Eugenio Suarez.

NOTES: Reds OF Scott Schebler went a combined 2-for-7 with an RBI on Tuesday and Wednesday in rehab appearances for Triple-A Louisville. He has been on the disabled list since Aug. 1 with a left shoulder strain. ... Reds 1B Joey Votto's consecutive game streak reaching base two or more times in a game included a 17-game hitting streak that was snapped Sunday at Milwaukee. ... Cincinnati RHP Scott Feldman (7-7, 4.43 ERA) opposes Cubs LHP Jon Lester (8-7, 3.99 ERA) on Thursday in the series finale. ... Chicago 1B Anthony Rizzo's grand slam was his first since Sept. 4, 2015, against Arizona. All three of his slams have come at Wrigley Field.

Reds hope to mount offense against Cubs' Lackey

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(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Given the deficit by which they lost to begin their visit to Wrigley Field, the Cincinnati Reds could have allowed their four-game series with the defending World Series champions to slip away before it really got started.

A 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, however, may have changed that.

Now, the Reds look to string two victories together after dropping three consecutive games, including a 15-5 defeat to the Cubs on Monday. Game 3 of the four-game set is scheduled for Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.

"To come off a game like (Monday's) when we got beat really bad and (Tuesday) we had enough confidence to play the game, I feel like this win was big for us," said Billy Hamilton, whose ninth-inning RBI single was crucial in the Reds' victory Tuesday.

The Reds' attempt to maintain their momentum will face a challenge Wednesday from Cubs right-hander John Lackey, who has won each of his past five starts and hasn't lost since June 28.

Lackey (10-9, 4.82 ERA) is 1-1 with a 6.35 ERA in two starts against the Reds this season, and he is 6-5 with a 3.90 ERA in 15 career starts against Cincinnati.

The Reds will counter will Homer Bailey (4-6, 8.31 ERA), who will face the Cubs for the first time this season. Bailey, who is 8-3 with a 4.37 ERA in 16 career starts against the Cubs, has dropped four of his past six starts.

As Cincinnati continues to fight through a disappointing season, the Cubs are hoping to use a stretch against sub-.500 teams like the Reds to improve their playoff standing. Thanks to a St. Louis Cardinals loss Tuesday, the Cubs maintained their 1 1/2-game edge in the National League Central. The Milwaukee Brewers also climbed within 1 1/2 games of Chicago thanks to their win Tuesday.

Although the Cubs have struggled all season to play with any type of consistency, they are hoping that a tight race and tight games like Tuesday's might set them up for another lengthy postseason run.

"I think we've played a lot better the second half," Chicago second baseman Ben Zobrist said. "We can still play better, and we anticipate doing that. We're in a decent spot -- we're not exactly where we want to be ... but we'd like to be playing even better than we are and kind of run away with the division."

With a favorable stretch upcoming, the Cubs are in a position to make the kind of run that set them apart in the NL Central last season.

However, after leaving 10 runners on base Tuesday while going 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, they know that even games against also-rans won't be easy.

"I'm hoping it's a dogfight and that we stay on top -- finish on top, that's it," Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward said after the Tuesday loss. "We're playing good baseball, we're battling on a daily basis, we're grinding, we're making adjustments and having fun competing, and that's all we can do."

Late runs lift Reds past Cubs

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- Billy Hamilton stepped to the plate in the ninth inning on Tuesday night having struck out in two of his three at-bats.

However, with the Cincinnati Reds clinging to a one-run lead and Hamilton facing a two-strike count, the leadoff hitter found a way to come through.

Hamilton delivered a key RBI single, and Luis Castillo threw six shutout innings as the Reds beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on Tuesday night.

The Reds, who lost the series opener 15-5 on Monday night, snapped a three-game losing streak.

"I stuck in there and had the confidence to hit with two strikes in that situation. I ended up putting that ball in play, which is what I wanted to do," Hamilton said. "It was a big-time run for us."

Scooter Gennett's eighth-inning sacrifice fly off Cubs reliever Pedro Strop broke a scoreless tie, driving in Joey Votto. In the ninth, Votto walked, reached third on an Adam Duvall single and scored on Hamilton's hit, making it 2-0.

It proved to be the hit that mattered.

The Cubs got within a run in the ninth when Ben Zobrist singled in Kyle Schwarber, who led off the inning with a single. However, with the tying run on third base, Reds reliever Raisel Iglesias struck out Ian Happ to end the game and pick up his 21st save.

"Tonight was a pitcher's duel," said Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward, who was stranded on third when Happ struck out in the ninth. "It's one of those games -- playoff-like game -- we competed, we didn't give either way.

"It is what it is -- I wish it would have been 2-1 our side."

The Reds' offense came through after Castillo kept the Cubs in check. The rookie right-hander struck out seven and allowed just two hits and two walks.

Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks also tossed six-plus shutout innings, allowing five hits and four walks while fanning six.

Michael Lorenzen (7-2) earned the win by throwing a scoreless seventh inning. Wandy Peralta got one out in the eighth, and Iglesias recorded the final five outs.

"(Those were) big pitches," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "(The Cubs) just don't give up ... they make a push.

"They don't run a lot of guys up there that aren't reputable players that don't make you nervous when they're at the plate. They created an opportunity, but we were able to withstand it."

The Cubs loaded the bases in the eighth inning with two outs. After Zobrist and Jon Jay walked to lead off the inning, Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch with two outs. Iglesias struck out Victor Caratini to preserve the one-run lead.

The Reds threatened in the seventh inning when they put runners on second and third with two outs. After a walk to Gennett and a Eugenio Suarez single chased Hendricks, Carl Edwards Jr. struck out the side to keep the game scoreless.

The Cubs appeared on the verge of breaking the scoreless tie in the seventh when Caratini singled and reached third on a single by Albert Almora Jr., who was thrown out trying to reach second on the base hit. But Lorenzen got Heyward to line out to second and Javier Baez to ground out.

"I hit it hard," Heyward said. "I hit it hard."

After the Reds finally broke the ice with Gennett's sacrifice fly, they did just enough to hold off the defending World Series champions.

"Whenever you can win a ballgame at Wrigley Field, it's nice," Gennett said. "It's great energy, a great atmosphere to play in, and overall, it was just a really fun baseball game."

NOTES: Reds C Devin Mesoraco was placed on the disabled list on Tuesday with a fractured left foot after he was hit by a pitch on Monday. Mesoraco returned to Cincinnati to meet with team doctors, and manager Bryan Price said the catcher could be out three to six weeks. OF Phillip Ervin was called up from Triple-A Louisville to fill the roster spot. ... Reds 1B Joey Votto extended his club record of reaching safely at least twice in a game to 20 consecutive games with three walks. ... Cubs SS Addison Russell (foot) ran in the outfield prior to the game as he continues to rehab. Russell said Tuesday he believes he is "moving in the right direction" but does not have a definite timeline to return. ... Cubs 2B Ben Zobrist was held out of the starting lineup for the second straight day with neck stiffness, but he pinch-hit in the eighth inning and stayed in the game.

Jay, Rizzo lead Cubs in 15-5 rout of Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- CHICAGO -- On a night of high humidity and pitch counts, Jose Quintana was grateful for big offensive productions by his Chicago Cubs teammates on Monday.

The Cubs right-hander (3-2) was stretched through his five-inning outing but picked up his first win since July 23 as the Cubs rolled to a 15-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

"It was really good and it was early," said Quintana, who yielded two runs (one earned) on four hits and four walks while striking out four. "I started slow and that was really impressive to me."

Jon Jay went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and three runs, and Anthony Rizzo was 3-for-5 with a homer and five RBIs to lead the Cubs.

"We scored first and just kept pouring it on," said Rizzo.

Tommy La Stella also had three hits and scored twice, and Kris Bryant and Javier Baez each had a pair of hits -- including a home run -- and scored twice for Chicago.

Jason Heyward went 2-for-4 with three runs as part of a 17-hit Cub attack, including 10 off Reds starter Asher Wojciechowski (3-2).

"They had a lot more hard contact through the course of the game, which led to more runs," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "But both teams had a lot of scoring opportunities and pitching wasn't sharp probably for either side."

The victory was the third in four games for Chicago (62-55), while the Reds (49-70) dropped their third straight.

Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto went 3-for-5 to extend his franchise record of consecutive games reaching base two times or more to 19.

Wojciechowski gave up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery doubled in two runs with one out in a six-run seventh off Reds reliever Drew Storen. Montgomery's second hit of the season and first double drove in Kyle Schwarber and Heyward for a 9-2 lead.

La Stella's sacrifice fly to right resulted in an error by Patrick Kivlehan and brought home Baez and Montgomery. Rizzo's third hit of the night -- a single up the middle -- scored Jay, who had been intentionally walked. Schwarber capped the big inning with a single to bring in La Stella.

Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett was 2-for-5 and clubbed a two-run homer with no outs in the eighth off Montgomery, his 20th of the season.

Gennett also pitched the bottom of the eighth, allowing Baez's two-run homer, the shortstop's 18th of the season.

The Cubs claimed a 2-0 first-inning lead when Rizzo bounced a base hit to left to bring home Jay and Bryant. Jay had singled to open the inning while Bryant's one-out double to left put runners on second and third.

The Reds loaded the bases with one gone in the second and pushed across a run on Kivlehan's dribbler to the mound. Quintana's toss to catcher Alex Avila went awry, allowing Eugenio Suarez to score.

Billy Hamilton then singled to left to drive in Gennett for a 2-2 tie, but pinch runner Tucker Barnhart was thrown out at the plate.

Chicago loaded the bases with two outs in the third and failed to score, then rocked Wojciechowski for five runs in the fourth, all after two outs.

The Cubs plated two as Jay's triple to the right-field corner drove in Heyward for a 3-2 lead. Jay came home on La Stella's single to center to make it 4-2.

Bryant followed with his 22nd homer of the season and second in two days to score La Stella and extend the lead to 6-2.

Rizzo then made it back-to-back home runs with his 27th of the season, making it a 7-2 lead. It also chased Wojciechowski.

"They exploited their opportunities to score with multiple baserunners on, a couple of big innings that created some problems for us," said Price.

Reds starting catcher Devin Mesoraco was hit by a pitch in the second inning and departed in favor of Barnhart, who then worked the rest of the game behind the plate.

Price said an X-ray revealed a possible left foot fracture and that Mesoraco would return to Cincinnati on Tuesday for a MRI.

NOTES: Reds OF Scott Schebler is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday. He has been on the disabled list since Aug. 1 with a left shoulder strain. ... The Reds' rotation features three rookies: RHP Asher Wojciechowski (Monday's starter), RHP Luis Castillo (Tuesday's starter) and RHP Sal Romano. ... Castillo (2-5, 3.73 ERA) makes his 11th major league appearance and start on Tuesday as he faces the Cubs for the first time. Chicago will start RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-4, 3.70 ERA). ... The Cubs have a stretch of 13 straight games against teams in last place in their division and 24 against teams with below .500 records. ... Chicago is 32-29 away from Wrigley Field, the only NL Central team with a winning road mark.

Newcomer Walker helps Brewers top Reds

(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- Neil Walker expects to sleep soundly Sunday night.

After a whirlwind night that began in Philadelphia when he learned he was traded, continued with a car ride back to New York to pack his bags, followed by a early-morning flight to Milwaukee, Walker made a memorable debut with the Brewers by collecting two singles in his first two at-bats in a 7-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park.

"I was excited to get here and I was excited when I talked to (manager Craig Counsell) last night," Walker said. "He told me I was going to be in the lineup and I was excited about that. Easier in my opinion to get thrown in the fire and see how it goes."

Walker's presence provided an extra spark to a Brewers offense that snapped out of a lengthy funk against the Reds, putting up 23 runs in the three-game series, nearly matching the 25 they scored in the eight games leading up to the Reds' visit.

"We swung the bats well these last three games," Counsell said. "We had good at-bats."

Following the formula that worked so well for much of the season, the Brewers jumped on their opponent early, scoring three in the first inning against Sal Romano.

Ryan Braun got things started with an RBI double, then scored on an error by right fielder Jesse Winker. Manny Pina capped the early outburst with an RBI double before Romano got out of it.

"The Brewers are real aggressive on the bases, very effective and efficient running the bases, taking extra bases, stealing bases, bunting, doing all the things that really keep you on your toes defensively and they exploit things," Reds manager Bryan Price said.

Matt Garza (6-6) kept the Reds off the board through three innings, but a leadoff walk to Joey Votto in the fourth came back to haunt him when Adam Duvall followed with his 27th home run of the year.

Domingo Santana gave the Brewers some breathing room in the fifth, sending a 1-0 offering from Romano over the fence, putting Milwaukee up 7-2.

"That three-run homer to Santana really cost us today," Romano said. "I've just got to be able to get that guy out in that situation."

The rookie gave way after the fifth inning, having allowed seven runs (six earned), eight hits and a walk while striking out seven.

"I thought there was definitely a lot of good today, a lot of improvement in a lot of different things," Romano said. "Obviously the stat line doesn't show that, and a loss for the team. But I'm just taking bits and pieces from every game and continue to get better."

Garza battled again in the sixth, issuing a leadoff walk to Scooter Gennett. He retired Eugenio Suarez on a weak grounder to first, but Jose Peraza followed with a single. With Tucker Barnhart up, a wild pitch allowed Gennett to score.

Barnhart drove in another run with an RBI single, chasing Garza, but Jeremy Jeffress got Milwaukee out of the inning.

"It was ugly," said Garza, who gave up four runs, allowed five hits and walked five. "But sometimes ugly wins, and that's all we're here to do, is win. It wasn't my best outing. It wasn't my cleanest outing.

"The four runs that scored were five walks, so it wasn't my strongest outing. But, hey, at the end of the day, we won. The whole goal is to win as many ballgames as we can. We won a series for the first time in a while. Just trying to get this thing rolling again."

Jacob Barnes put up zeroes in the seventh and eighth, and Corey Knebel locked it down in the ninth for his 22nd save.

NOTES: INF Neil Walker arrived in Milwaukee and was in the Brewers' starting lineup, batting cleanup and playing third base. ... To make room for Walker on the active roster, Milwaukee placed LHP Brent Suter on the disabled list with a mild rotator cuff strain and designated RHP Michael Blazek for assignment, opening space on the 40-man roster. ... Walker started at 3B because Travis Shaw was given a day off after fouling pitches off a foot and knee Wednesday night. Brewers manager Craig Counsell said he expects Shaw to be back Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. ... Cincinnati placed RHP Austin Brice on the 10-day disabled list with a right lat strain and reinstated RHP Robert Stephenson from the 10-day disabled list. He had been bothered by right shoulder issues.

Brewers snap 6-game skid on wild pitch in 10th

(TSX / STATS) -- MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee's offense magically reappeared with three homers on Saturday night, but Eric Sogard's mad dash home on a 10th-inning wild pitch was the deciding factor as the Brewers snapped their season-high six-game losing streak with a 6-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Miller Park.

"I think you're kind of expecting a walk-off win or something like that to break a streak, but you can take it any way you can get it," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "You can tell by the celebration we had that we needed it."

Travis Shaw, Ryan Braun and Eric Thames each homered for the Brewers, who produced 12 hits in their third walk-off win of the year -- and their second by wild pitch.

After stranding runners at first and second in the ninth, closer Corey Knebel (1-2) worked around a one-out single in the top of the 10th to preserve the tie.

Sogard started the rally with a one-out double but missed a chance to tag up and advance when catcher Manny Pina flied out to center. Tim Adelman (5-10) proceeded to walk the next two batters, loading the bases for Braun, who had 40 career home runs against Reds pitchers -- including his shot earlier in the night.

Adleman got ahead of Braun 2-0 and followed with a curveball that got past catcher Tucker Barnhart.

"I pulled it off of the outside corner a little too far," Adleman said. "That's a real tough pitch for Tucker to block. He did pretty well. It didn't get too far, but Sogard got a good jump on it."

Sogard scrambled home and slid just under the reach of Adleman, giving Milwaukee its first victory in a week.

"I was looking for a curveball in the dirt there 0-2," Sogard said. "It was able to get just outside the dirt there. That's kind of what I was looking for, anything close to the grass I was going to give a shot. I was able to get in there. That was great. We needed that win."

The rally helped make up for another short start from left-hander Brent Suter, who gave up five runs and four hits -- including three home runs -- while walking four and striking out three.

Adam Duvall tagged Suter for a two-run homer in the opening inning. After Shaw responded with a three-run shot in the bottom of the inning, Patrick Kivlehan put the Reds in front with a two-run blast in the fourth. Zack Cozart made it 5-3 when he took Suter deep with one out in the fifth.

"They did a nice job at laying off the balls up, which he's got a lot of swings at," Counsell said. "They made him get down in the zone to pitches they could hit and obviously hit some homers."

Cincinnati starter Scott Feldman didn't fare much better in his return from a month-long stint on the disabled list. He went just four innings and gave up three runs, seven hits and a walk while striking out six.

Reds manager Bryan Price was working with a short bullpen after Michael Lorenzen threw 29 pitches and closer Raisel Iglesias worked two innings a night earlier after Cincinnati blew an eight-run lead.

So instead, Price turned to Kevin Shackelford, who missed his mark on a first-pitch offering that Braun sent to center for his 13th of the year, cutting the deficit to 5-4. Milwaukee threatened to break the game open in the inning, loading the bases with two outs, but Shackelford snuck out of it without any further damage by striking out Andrew Susac.

He wasn't as lucky in the sixth as Thames tied it with his team-leading 27th homer of the season -- and 10th of the year against the Reds.

"The guys that were in there were capable of doing the job," Price said.

NOTES: Brewers GM David Stearns announced after the game that Milwaukee acquired switch-hitting 2B Neil Walker from the Mets in exchange for a player to be named. ... The Reds designated IF/OF Arismendy Alcantara for assignment, clearing the way for RHP Scott Feldman to come off the disabled list and start against the Brewers. Alcantara batted .171 in 70 games for Cincinnati this season. ... Brewers 3B Travis Shaw fouled pitches off his foot and knee during a fifth-inning at-bat but stayed in the game until singling in the ninth inning, when he was replaced by a pinch-runner.

Gennett's grand slam leads Reds past Padres

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- It was a classic seventh-inning chess match on Thursday afternoon between San Diego Padres manager Andy Green and Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price.

Left-hander Brad Hand had not allowed a run since June 10. Scooter Gennett had hit .203 versus lefties this season. Price chose not to pinch-hit for Gennett. It was the best possible matchup for Green and the Padres.

Reds: Checkmate.

Gennett hit a grand slam on Hand's first pitch, and two pitches later, Eugenio Suarez added a solo shot, as Cincinnati rallied for a 10-3 victory over the Padres in the finale of a four-game series at Great American Ball Park.

"I think it was just a first-pitch slider for a strike," said Gennett. "(Price) is the type of manager that if you're starting, he's going to roll with what he's got. It's great to play for a manager like that."

With the Padres leading 3-2 with two Reds runners on and a 2-2 count on Joey Votto, Green replaced Kirby Yates with Hand, who had starting warming up when Votto came up to bat.

Hand walked Votto after two pitches to load the bases, then fanned Adam Duvall for the second out.

"We've got the lefty-lefty matchup that we honestly covet, that we would have gone to no matter what, Brad vs Scooter Gennett," said Green. "Brad's been great all year. He hung a breaking ball and he paid for it."

Gennett crushed the first pitch into the center-field seats for his third career grand slam, snapping Hand's career-high 24-inning scoreless streak.

"I had a pretty good idea it was gone," Gennett said.

On the next pitch after Gennett took a curtain call, Suarez launched a solo shot an estimated 451 feet to center putting Cincinnati ahead 7-3.

"It was just middle up, bases-loaded, trying to get ahead," Hand said. "I left a pitch up to Scooter and that was basically the end of it. I was warm. I can get hot very quick. As a matter of fact, I don't need many down there. My arm's loose."

It was the 20th home run of the season for both Gennett and Suarez.

Yates (2-3) was charged with two earned runs in one-third of an inning to take the loss. Drew Storen (3-2) pitched one-third of an inning and got the win.

Zack Cozart added a two-run home run and Votto a solo shot off Phil Maton in the eighth. It was Cozart's 14th of the season and Votto's 31st, extending Votto's hitting streak to 15 games.

Cincinnati (48-67) took three of four in the series but hasn't won a season series from the Padres since 2012. The Reds were swept in a three-game series at Petco Park in June and finished 3-4 against them this season.

Dinelson Lamet started for the Padres (50-64) and allowed two runs on three hits through five innings. He was in line to become the first San Diego hurler to win four consecutive starts since Jesse Hahn in 2014 before the bullpen imploded.

Reds rookie right-hander Luis Castillo made his 10th career start, allowing three earned runs on six hits in six-plus innings.

Tucker Barnhart doubled down the right-field line to drive in two runs in the second, putting the Reds ahead 2-0.

Wil Myers had the only two Padres' hits off Castillo through four innings. His 23rd home run of the season to center field in the fourth cut San Diego's deficit to 2-1. Myers homered to right field Wednesday night, snapping an 0-for-11 skid.

Second time through the order, the Padres got some better swings at Castillo.

Luis Torrens singled leading off the fifth and scored on Cory Spangenberg's double. Jose Pirela, who walked in his prior two at-bats, laced an RBI single to right, to put San Diego in front 3-2. It was Pirela's 12th hit in 25 at-bats versus Cincinnati this season. But the Padres bullpen couldn't maintain the lead.

"I like the guys to be in those situations," said Price. "I don't usually pinch-hit for our regular guys. Scooter's been a clutch guy for us. I thought if he made a mistake, he could get him. He did."

NOTES: Reds 1B Joey Votto's 15-game hitting streak is a team season-high and the longest active streak in the majors. ... The Reds reinstated from the paternity list C Devin Mesoraco and placed on the 10-day disabled list, retroactive to Monday, RHP Lisalverto Bonilla with right elbow inflammation. Mesoraco walked as a pinch hitter in the eighth. ... Yangervis Solarte started at SS for the Padres for only the third time this season and went 1-for-4. ... Reds RF Jesse Winker batted leadoff for the first time and went 0-for-3 with a walk. He made 10 appearances in the leadoff spot at Triple-A Louisville, batting .351.

Padres' Lamet looks to extend win streak vs. Reds

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(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- With a victory Thursday in the series finale against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park, right-hander Dinelson Lamet could become the first San Diego Padres pitcher with wins in four straight starts since Jesse Hahn in 2014.

Lamet (6-4, 5.12 ERA) has a 1.96 ERA during his three-game winning streak, and the key to his recent improvement might be the growing confidence in his slider.

"The slider's real," Padres manager Andy Green said, "and the willingness to throw it at any time. For the longest time, I think he saw it as a kill pitch. He was only going to throw it when he was ahead in the count when he wanted to put a hitter away."

The 25-year-old Dominican native now will throw his slider with a 1-0 count or 2-0. It brings him back into favorable counts and helps make his fastball more effective.

"It's a really good fastball, but major league hitters turn around a 95 mile per hour fastball when they know it's coming, so (the slider) is putting a little doubt in their heads," Green said. "It's a 50-50 mix, rather than a 70-30 mix before."

The Reds (47-67) are looking for improvement from right-hander Luis Castillo on Thursday afternoon. Castillo is making his 10th start of the season and first appearance against the Padres.

Last time out, Castillo (2-5, 3.64 ERA) tied a season high with five walks, and he gave up four runs (three earned) in 6 1/3 innings during a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday. Four of his past six outings were quality starts.

"We're talking about a young guy who really looks like a big-league pitcher," Reds manager Bryan Price said of Castillo, who is one of three rookies in the Cincinnati rotation. "He is going to be vulnerable to the same things other young pitchers are vulnerable to. I'd like to see him bounce back and be sharp in his next outing."

Reds first baseman Joey Votto will be looking to extend his team-high hitting streak to 15 games. Votto is batting .477 (21-for-44) during his current streak.

The Padres hope their first baseman, Wil Myers, is breaking out of his slump. Myers snapped an 0-for-11 skid with a two-run homer, his 22nd home run of the season, in the sixth inning of San Diego's 8-3 loss to the Reds on Wednesday.

"I worked in the cage today, put the ball in play four times and didn't get punched out," Myers said after Wednesday's game. "I don't want to say I hit a home run so I'm out of this. That's happened a few times this past two months. I like what I did today. I made contact four times. Just go from there."

Cincinnati hasn't won a season series against San Diego (50-63) since 2012, and it won't this year with the Padres winning four of the first six meetings.

The Reds have a chance to take three of four in the current series, however. Since 2012, Cincinnati is 11-20 versus the Padres, including 8-17 the past four years. The Reds were swept in a three-game series at Petco Park in June.

Turner, Suarez homers lead Reds past Padres

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- The Cincinnati Reds have been carrying three catchers on the roster for most of this season, with Tucker Barnhart and Devin Mesoraco getting the bulk of the starts, leaving little playing time for rookie Stuart Turner.

On Wednesday night, Turner made the most of a rare start.

Turner and Eugenio Suarez each hit two-run homers and Jose Peraza went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, lifting the Reds to an 8-3 victory over the San Diego Padres at Great American Ball Park.

Turner's homer in the fifth inning off Padres left-hander Travis Wood was the first of his career, and he was given the ball as a keepsake.

"Hopefully, one day we'll have a (trophy) case or something," Turner said. "I try not to harp on the negative, which can be difficult. I take the (opportunities) as they come. Try to get a quality at-bat out there."

With a victory on Thursday, Cincinnati (47-67) would claim the series win. The Reds have won two of the first three in the four-game set.

Reds rookie Asher Wojciechowski (3-1) allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings with no walks and six strikeouts. He also singled in the fourth inning for his first career hit.

"You look at the body of work, very sharp with a three-pitch mix," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Very good location on the fastball and very good breaking ball that he kept down on the plate. He was in attack mode."

San Diego (50-63) homered twice off Wojciechowski but couldn't complete the comeback from a 6-0 deficit.

Manuel Margot led off the sixth with his 10th home run of the season, and Wil Myers snapped an 0-for-11 skid later in the inning with his 22nd home run, a two-run shot to make the score 6-3.

Margot became the first Padres center fielder to reach 10 home runs in his rookie season.

"I don't want to say I hit a home run so I'm out of this (slump)," Myers said. "I like what I did today. I made contact four times. Just go from there."

Yangervis Solarte went 2-for-4 with a double for the Padres. He has hit safely in 10 straight games against the Reds.

San Diego starter Travis Wood (2-4) couldn't overcome a shaky start against his former team. He wound up allowing six runs (five earned) and seven hits, including two homers, in five innings.

Wood, making his third start since being acquired by the Padres, needed 32 pitches to get through the first inning. He was one strike from getting out of a bases-loaded jam when Jose Peraza delivered a clutch two-run single on a 3-2 pitch to put Cincinnati ahead 2-0.

"In the first two games, he had command of his pitches on the periphery of the zone," Padres manager Andy Green said. "Today for whatever reason, it wasn't getting called on the periphery and it forced him to the middle of the plate."

Again, with two outs in the third, Wood couldn't finish off the inning. Adam Duvall doubled and Suarez followed with his 19th home run of the season to make the score 4-0. The two-out rallies pushed Wood's pitch count to 67 through three innings.

"I got two outs in the first and I've got to finish it," Wood said. "Same thing in the third. It was just one of those grinding days that didn't go my way."

Hunter Renfroe's sliding catch on Duvall's pop fly to right in the fourth prevented more two-out Reds damage, leaving the bases loaded.

Turner, making his eighth start of the season, launched his first homer into the upper deck of the left field bleachers with a runner on, making it 6-0 in the fifth.

"Turner absolutely killed that ball," Price said. "He's in a tough spot. He doesn't get a chance to play too often. It's tough when you don't see live pitching for a week or two."

NOTES: Reds 1B Joey Votto went 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to a team-high 14 games. He is batting .477 during the streak. ... The Reds claimed RHP Luke Farrell from the Dodgers and optioned him to Triple-A Louisville. Farrell, a graduate of St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, is the son of Boston Red Sox manager John Farrell. ... Per STATS, the Reds have had 39 innings in which they allowed four or more runs and the Padres have had 38 such innings, ranking as most and second most in major leagues.

Hot-hitting Votto powers Reds over Padres

(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- What's wrong with Joey Votto? Nothing.

Since ending a mini-slump coming out of the All-Star break, the Cincinnati Reds first baseman has a 12-game hitting streak. In his first two at-bats on Monday, Votto singled, homered and drove in three runs to spark a rout.

Patrick Kivlehan hit a grand slam, and Votto, Adam Duvall, and Zack Cozart added two-run shots, lifting the Reds to an 11-3 victory over the San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

Votto batted .128 in his first 12 appearances after the break.

He is now hitting .500 during his 12-game streak and has homered in three consecutive games. He went 2-for-3 with a walk on Monday.

"I felt great coming out of the All-Star break, but I was going 0-fer and not helping the team," Votto said. "I can't really explain either side of it."

Cincinnati (46-66) defeated the Padres for the first time this season after being swept at Petco Park in June.

Blake Wood (1-4) recorded the final out of the fifth after starter Tim Adleman allowed a two-out single to Carlos Asuaje in the inning.

Jose Pirela homered twice for the Padres (49-62), who haven't lost a season series against the Reds since 2012.

Padres starter Jhoulys Chacin (11-8) allowed five earned runs on five hits, including a season-high-tying two home runs, in six innings. Chacin yielded more than three earned runs for the first time since May 23 against the New York Mets.

"Jhoulys battled," Padres manager Andy Green said. "It wasn't his strongest command game. Overall, he was solid."

Adleman allowed two runs on six hits and a walk in 4 2/3 innings.

Duvall's 25th home run of the season followed a walk to Votto in the sixth, putting Cincinnati ahead 5-2. It was Duvall's fifth homer in his past 12 games.

Cozart's towering two-run blast off Kyle McGrath in the seventh made the score 7-2. It was Cozart's 13th home run this season.

"It showcases what we're capable of doing offensively," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We have the ability to score runs at a big clip. I think we can still grow and get better."

Pirela hit a solo shot off Wandy Peralta in the eighth for his first career multi-homer game.

In the bottom of the eight, after the Reds loaded the bases against Carter Capps, who was making his Padres debut, Kivlehan launched the first pitch from Phil Maton into the right-center-field seats for his first career grand slam.

"It felt good to close out the game there," said Kivlehan, who said the ball was given to him by a fan. "(Maton) was our closer at Triple-A (El Paso) last year. I know he likes to throw his fastball. I wanted to be aggressive there."

Cincinnati jumped on Chacin early.

Billy Hamilton led off the bottom of the first with triple into the right field corner, and he scored on Votto's single.

"It's hard to get him off-balance," Chacin said of Votto. "He always stays on your pitch. He's never trying to pull the ball. In that last at-bat, I tried to quick pitch to get him off his timing, and I couldn't get it where I wanted to."

In the third, Votto belted his 30th home run of the season, a two-run shot, giving the Reds a 3-0 lead.

"Single, home run and a walk," Price said. "That plays pretty well. When he's just being a normal hitter, we think something's wrong. That's how good he is."

Adleman retired the first nine batters he faced but ran into trouble in the fourth. Manuel Margot was thrown out trying to stretch a double into a triple, but Asuaje followed with a double. Pirela then homered to make the score 3-2.

"He hit that one cold to left field," Green said. "The one to right field is probably not out at Petco, but he sneaks it out."

NOTES: Reds 1B Joey Votto hit his 136th career home run at Great American Ball Park, passing Jay Bruce for most of any player. With his 251st career home run, he tied Ted Kluszewski for fifth on the Reds' all-time list. ... Cincinnati C Devin Mesoraco was placed on the three-day paternity list following the birth of son, Luke, on Sunday. ... Reds RHP Austin Brice was recalled from Triple-A Louisville. ... The Padres recalled RHP Carter Capps, who turned 27 on Monday, from Triple-A El Paso, and RHP Buddy Baumann was optioned to Triple-A. Capps made his first appearance in the big leagues since Aug. 2, 2015, and he was charged with three runs in two-thirds of an inning.

Reds adjust rotation to start series with Padres

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(TSX / STATS) -- CINCINNATI -- Reds manager Bryan Price has no intention of playing out the string during the final two months of the season. However, the balancing act of seeking wins while also fostering Cincinnati's rebuilding process is something he has dealt with all season.

"The things you focus on are the things you can control," Price said. "We're trying to build a pitching staff here. That's our biggest goal. You don't want to concede wins for development."

The last-place Reds (45-66) host the San Diego Padres (49-61) in a four-game series beginning Monday night at Great American Ball Park.

Cincinnati hasn't won a season series against the Padres since 2012.

The Reds were forced to adjust their rotation for the series opener when right-hander Robert Stephenson was placed on the 10-day disabled on Sunday due to a bruised rotator cuff.

Tim Adleman (5-9, 5.42 ERA) will move back into the rotation to start Monday in his first career appearance against the Padres.

"I would be available to start tomorrow if I really wanted to, but there is no reason to push it," Stephenson said on Sunday.

Stephenson is among several promising young starters the Reds are pinning their hopes on for next season and beyond. Injuries have delayed development of a few of those young arms, but San Diego will face three of Cincinnati's budding stalwarts, right-handers Sal Romano, Asher Wojciechowski and Luis Castillo, during the series.

Adleman was 0-5 with a 7.34 ERA in a six-start span before he was moved to the bullpen late last month. However, he hasn't pitched since his most recent start on July 29.

Price has instituted a trial-by-fire approach with many of his young prospects.

"You don't pull a young starter in the third inning because he doesn't have it," said Price. "You want to see how he handles that. You don't pinch-hit for (left-handed-hitting right fielder) Jesse Winker against a left-hander. You want to see what he can do against left-handed pitching. But, the goal is to make every effort to win every ballgame, get out of last place and feel good about how we finished 2017."

The Reds have gone 9-19 versus the Padres since 2012, including 6-16 the last four years. San Diego swept a three-game series in June at Petco Park.

Padres right-hander Jhoulys Chacin (11-7, 3.99 ERA) will take the mound Monday for his 23rd start of the season and 11th on the road. His 11 wins and 13 quality starts lead the team.

Chacin earned the win in seven of his 10 starts since June 9, and he has allowed two or fewer earned runs in nine of those 10 outings. He has been outstanding at Petco Park, posting a 1.86 ERA, the lowest home ERA among major league starters. He is looking to carry that success on the road, where he is 4-5 with a 7.35 ERA.

"He's a guy that all the pitches have to work ... and he has the capability to do that," Padres manager Andy Green said. "We love his spin. We love his off-speed."

Chacin is 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA in seven career games (five starts) against the Reds.