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Reds try to continue Wrigley mastery

Apr 19, 2014 - 1:43 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Tony Cingrani received plenty of run support in logging his first win of the season in his most recent start. The 24-year-old left- hander hopes the Reds can continue their success at Wrigley Field when they play the middle installment of a three-game set this afternoon.

Cincinnati has won 16 of its last 17 contests played at Wrigley Field. That includes Friday's 4-1 triumph when Alfredo Simon yielded one unearned run through six-plus innings for the Reds.

Two days after being shut out in both ends of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees, the Cubs mustered just six hits off Simon and three Cincinnati relievers en route to a fifth consecutive defeat.

The lack of offense saddled Jeff Samardzija (0-2) with yet another hard-luck loss despite the Chicago ace permitting three runs -- one earned -- and fanning seven over seven solid innings.

Simon (2-1), who permitted four hits and walked two, was aided by an RBI double by Billy Hamilton and an error by Cubs second baseman Emilio Bonifacio that allowed two runs to score in the sixth.

"Today I think we were a little sloppy in general," said Cubs manager Rick Renteria. "Jeff really kept us in the ball game throughout."

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips left after 2 1/2 innings due to back spasms. He appeared to injure his lower back while swinging in his first at- bat and could be held out of today's contest.

"That second at-bat you could see there was some discomfort," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I didn't see it getting any better."

Cingrani limited the Tampa Bay Rays to five hits and two runs over 6 1/3 innings of a 12-4 win on Sunday. He's 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in four career starts against the Cubs.

Edwin Jackson, who is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in five career starts against the Reds, toes the rubber for the host club. The right-hander, who still doesn't have a win in 2014 after pacing the National League with 18 losses last year, was handed a defeat in his most recent start. He allowed eight hits and four runs in six frames at St. Louis Sunday.

Cincinnati was 14-5 versus the Cubs last season. The last time the Reds lost a season series to the Cubs was in 2009.