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Latos, Schumaker lead Reds over Cubs

Aug 28, 2014 - 6:03 AM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Mat Latos pitched into the eighth inning and Skip Schumaker drove in two runs in Cincinnati's 7-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park.

Cuban outfielder Jorge Soler homered in his first career plate appearance, and his RBI single capped a three-run top of the eighth to get the visitors within a run, but pinch-hitter Chris Heisey homered off Zac Rosscup leading off the bottom of the inning.

Latos (5-3) had a season-best 10 strikeouts over seven-plus frames and was charged with seven hits and four runs. He's 3-0 over his last six starts and hasn't lost since July 27 against Washington.

"It was definitely something that we needed," Reds manager Bryan Price said of Latos' performance. "He made some outstanding pitches, he was down in the zone and commanded the bottom of the strike zone."

The Reds have won three of four since a seven-game skid.

Jacob Turner (4-8), who was acquired from Miami on Aug. 8 for a pair of minor league pitchers, suffered the loss in his first start in a Cubs uniform.

Luis Valbuena also homered for the Cubs, who had a four-game winning streak broken.

"It wasn't the best game they played, but certainly they kept battling," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said.

Singles by pinch-hitter Logan Watkins and Chris Coghlan sent Latos off the mound, and Javier Baez greeted Jonathan Broxton with a two-run double to left- center. Starlin Castro then singled, but Valbuena fanned.

After Soler grounded a hit into left, Broxton escaped the jam by getting Welington Castillo to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play.

Aroldis Chapman put two men on base in the ninth, and Baez flied out to the warning track in center to end it. Chapman picked up his 28th save.

Valbuena homered to right field on a 1-0 pitch to lead off the second inning. Soler, who became the eighth player to make his major-league debut for the Cubs this season, followed by taking a 2-1 offering over the wall in left.

The 22-year-old Soler, who hit .340 with 15 home runs and 57 RBI this season between the Cubs' Rookie league (rehab games), Double-A and Triple-A affiliates, was the latest prospect to be recalled. He joined starter Kyle Hendricks, outfielder Arismendy Alcantara and Baez, who also homered in his first major league game on Aug. 5.

Schumaker doubled in a run in the bottom of the second and Zack Cozart followed with an RBI groundout.

The Reds had three hits in Tuesday's 3-0 loss, but had five in the four-run fourth inning alone Wednesday. Kristopher Negron doubled and scored on Schumaker's single to left-center and the Cubs committed two errors with two outs to keep the inning alive.

After Latos put down a sacrifice bunt, Billy Hamilton hit a grounder to Castro, who charged in but the ball went past him. Hamilton was credited with a single, but Schumaker scored on the error. Valbuena then couldn't handle Todd Frazier's bouncer to third.

Carlos Villanueva replaced Turner, but Hamilton swiped third for his 50th steal of the season. Brandon Phillips and Devin Mesoraco followed with consecutive RBI singles for a 6-2 advantage.

Game Notes

Soler is the first Cub to homer in his first major-league plate appearance since Castro, also against the Reds in a May 7, 2010, game in Cincinnati ... The Cubs have homered in 11 straight contests for the first time since Sept. 8-17, 2007 ... In addition to calling up Soler, the Cubs also recalled Watkins from Triple-A Iowa and placed outfielders Justin Ruggiano (ankle) and Ryan Sweeney (hamstring) on the 15-day disabled list ... Hamilton's 50 steals are the most for the Reds since Deion Sanders had 56 in 1997 and the most by a Reds rookie since Bob Bescher set the club record for rookies with 54 in 1909 ... The three-game series concludes Thursday afternoon with Jake Arrieta scheduled to pitch for the Cubs against Dylan Axelrod for Cincinnati.