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Reds 'steal' one from Cubs

Aug 29, 2014 - 7:17 AM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Zack Cozart led a potent offensive attack, as the Cincinnati Reds stole the show in a 7-2 thumping of the Chicago Cubs at Great American Ball Park.

Cozart went 3-for-4 with an RBI, three runs scored and two stolen bases for the Reds, who swiped a season-high six bags in winning the rubber match of this three-game set.

Todd Frazier also stole two bases, finishing 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for Cincinnati, which ended a seven-game homestand with four wins.

Deuces were wild for Reds speedster Billy Hamilton. The center fielder had two hits, two RBI, a pair of runs scored and two walks, while stealing his 51st base of the season.

Reds starting pitcher Dylan Axelrod (1-0) got the win, allowing just two hits over five innings. He struck out eight and walked three.

In his second major league game, Jorge Solar went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Cubs, who have dropped two in a row after winning four straight. The Cuban outfielder homered and drove in two runs in his debut on Wednesday.

The Reds got going in the second off Chicago starting pitcher Jake Arrieta. Kris Negron began the inning with a walk, stole second and scored on a Cozart base hit. Cozart, who also stole second, later scored on a Hamilton double. Frazier then singled home Hamilton for a 3-0 cushion.

"Arrieta, we knew, was going to be very hard to score on," said Reds manager Bryan Price. "So I felt kind of like we needed to create some scoring opportunities by running. He's a little bit slower and more deliberate to the plate, and we were able to take advantage of that."

Arrieta ran into trouble again in the fourth, surrendering three more runs. Frazier singled home the first run of the frame and later scored along with Hamilton on a Brandon Phillips double.

Cincinnati added another run in the sixth when Hamilton singled in Cozart.

The Cubs finally broke the board in ninth off reliever Jumbo Diaz. Starlin Castro scored on a Solar base hit and Luis Valbuena came across on an Arismendy Alcantara sac fly to round out the game's scoring.

Arrieta (7-5) ended up taking the loss, surrendering six runs on six hits, striking out eight and walking four in four innings. The right-hander has now lost three of his last four decisions.

Game Notes

Cincinnati's Jay Bruce went 0-for-5 with five strikeouts ... The Reds improved to 11-5 versus the Cubs this season ... Frazier has 19 steals this season ... The Cubs ended with just five hits.