• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Cubs down Reds in extras

Apr 25, 2015 - 5:26 AM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Jonathan Herrera singled home the go- ahead run in the 11th inning as the Chicago Cubs took a 7-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds to open a three-game set.

Anthony Rizzo was 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and two runs scored and David Ross added a two-run double for the Cubs, who came into the series off a four- game split with Pittsburgh.

Jon Lester allowed three runs on five hits with a walk and 10 strikeouts over six innings for Chicago, while Jason Motte (1-0) got out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the 10th to pick up the win.

Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Zack Cozart each drove in a run for the Reds, who have lost their last two games.

Mike Leake gave up three runs on four hits with a walk and nine strikeouts in seven innings on the mound for Cincinnati.

In the 11th inning with Burke Badenhop (0-1) on the mound, Rizzo singled with one out and Kris Bryant followed with a base hit. Herrera then ripped a single to right for a 4-3 lead.

After Starlin Castro was intentionally walked, Ross punched a double off the wall in right-center to plate two more runs, and Wood smoked a broken-bat liner back to the mound that went off the glove of Badenhop to score another run for a 7-3 lead.

Hector Rondon worked a flawless bottom of the 11th to finish off the game.

Cincinnati scored in the first as Billy Hamilton singled, stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and came home when Votto grounded out for a 1-0 lead.

The Reds made it a 2-0 game in the third when Hamilton again singled to leadoff, and again stole second base. After Votto struck out, Hamilton swiped third and later scored on a Phillips groundout.

Chicago, though, tied the contest in the fourth as Dexter Fowler doubled to start the frame and scored when Rizzo clubbed his second home run of the season.

Cincinnati went back up a run in the fourth after Marlon Byrd led off with a double, moved to third on a Brayan Pena groundout and scored on Cozart's sac fly for a 3-2 lead.

Coghlan led off the Cubs seventh with his third home of the year to tie the game once again.

Game Notes

The Reds were hitless in 14 attempts with runners in scoring position and stranded eight runners ... Hamilton has 12 stolen bases on the season ... Jake Arrieta pitches for Chicago on Saturday, and Anthony DeSclafani takes the mound for Cincinnati.