• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Cubs' bullpen shuts down Reds

Jun 12, 2015 - 4:42 AM Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - Miguel Montero staked the Cubs to an early lead with a three-run homer and Chicago rode that momentum to a 6-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday at Wrigley Field.

Dexter Fowler went 2-for-4 with a solo homer into the just-opened right-field bleachers, and Travis Wood (3-2) picked up the win in relief of Tsuyoshi Wada, who was pulled after surrendering a leadoff homer to Chris Dominguez in the fourth.

"I was happy to step up and eat some innings," said Wood, who allowed just one hit over 2 1/3 innings. "The rest of the bullpen did their job as well."

The combination of Wood, Justin Grimm, James Russell, Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon retired 15 of the final 16 Reds hitters as Chicago pulled out its fourth win in five games.

Michael Lorenzen (1-2) recorded a two-run triple for the Reds but was not as effective on the mound, giving up all six runs -- five earned -- on five hits over 4 1/3 innings.

"He's going to need to tighten up the command of the fastball," said Reds manager Bryan Price of his rookie starter. "He's going to be fine."

An Anthony Rizzo double and Kris Bryant walk set the stage for Montero's home run in the first inning.

Lorenzen got two of the runs back when his two-out triple to the warning track in right plated Brayan Pena and Eugenio Suarez.

Fowler found the right-field seats leading off the third. The famous bleachers were undergoing construction up to this point in a vast renovation plan for the iconic stadium.

Wada exited after Dominguez's blast, leaving him with a line of three runs allowed on four hits and two walks.

The Cubs tacked on two insurance runs in the fifth courtesy of a Bryant RBI double into the left-field corner and an error by Pena.

Rondon shook off a two-out single in the ninth to post his 11th save.

Game Notes

The Reds had won four in a row coming into this four-game series ... The Reds went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position ... The Cubs lead the season series 5-1.