Cubs 2 - 3 Reds
Final
  for this game

Hamilton hits first career homer as Reds top Cubs

Apr 30, 2014 - 7:00 AM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Billy Hamilton hit his first career home run to help the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 win over the Chicago Cubs in the opener of an abbreviated two-game series.

Hamilton went 3-for-4 with two runs scored in a game that saw the first pitch delayed close to 20 minutes and also included two delays once the game got underway.

"Every day I come in here, I'm trying to do something good for the team, whether it's a sacrifice fly or a stolen base or scoring a big run," Hamilton said.

Monday's game between the two teams was washed out due to rain. No makeup date has been announced.

Brandon Phillips and Chris Heisey both knocked in runs for the Reds, who saw starter Alfredo Simon (4-1) pick up his fourth win of the season after pitching six innings and surrendering two runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Jonathan Broxton picked up his fifth save of the season with a perfect ninth inning.

Starlin Castro knocked in both runs for Chicago, which has lost five of their last six games.

We have to try to figure out how we can do anything that we possibly can to score more runs," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said.

Jeff Samardzija (0-3) took the loss after he allowed three runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings with four walks and four strikeouts.

Samardzija issued a leadoff walk to Hamilton, who stole second and moved over to third on a wild pitch to quickly get into scoring position.

Joey Votto walked to put runners at the corners and Phillips followed with a long sacrifice fly to right that gave the Reds a 1-0 lead.

The Cubs took the lead in the third with a two-run single off the bat of Castro.

Emilio Bonifacio singled with one out and moved over to third on a single from Ryan Kalish. Anthony Rizzo followed with a walk and Castro ripped a single up the middle that plated Bonifacio and Kalish.

After the first in-game rain delay that lasted about 30 minutes, Simon faced the minimum in the fifth and Hamilton led off the bottom half of the inning with a laser out to right that tied the game.

Zack Cozart tripled with two outs in the sixth and pinch-hitter Heisey followed with a single to left that broke the tie.

The second delay lasted over an hour. Logan Ondrusek, Sam LeCure and Broxton collectively allowed three hits to seal the win for the Reds after play resumed.

Game Notes

Time of game: 3:00 (1:45 delay) ... The Reds collected 11 hits, while Chicago had eight ... Votto walked three times in the win ... The Cubs were 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position ... Cincinnati was 2-for-8 with RISP.






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