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Gomes, Reds deep-six Cubs

May 17, 2011 - 5:33 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Jonny Gomes hit a two-run homer, as the Cincinnati Reds scored all of their runs in the sixth inning to earn a 7-4 decision over the Cubs in the opener of a two-game set at Great American Ball Park.

Scott Rolen had the game-tying run-scoring double while Jay Bruce went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Cincinnati, which kept the momentum going after sweeping St. Louis in a three-game series over the weekend. The Reds have won four straight and 10 of 12 overall.

Homer Bailey (3-0), making only his third start of the season, grinded through six innings, allowing six hits and four runs -- three earned. The right-hander walked three and fanned four. Francisco Cordero locked the game down with a perfect ninth to earn his eighth save of the season.

"I'll take getting seven runs in the sixth any day," Bailey said. "I knew somehow, some way at the end of the game it was going to be tight."

Carlos Pena clubbed a two-run homer for the Cubs, who have dropped five of their last seven games. Darwin Barney went 3-for-4 with an RBI.

Carlos Zambrano (4-2) was touched for six runs on six hits, with three walks and three strikeouts, in 5 1/3 innings.

"I don't like the performance for myself," Zambrano said. "As a starter, I have to get better."

Bailey walked the bases loaded with one out in the first, but got out of trouble unscathed when he struck out Alfonso Soriano and Marlon Byrd.

Starting pitching limited the offensive chances until the Cubs put up two in the fifth to open the scoring.

With runners on the corners and nobody out, Zambrano hit a high chopper to third base that Rolen fielded and threw off the mark to the plate, allowing one to come home. Later in the inning with one out, Barney singled to right to bring in another.

Pena's two-run homer to right in the sixth made it a 4-0 game, but Cincinnati exploded for seven in the home half, sending 12 men to the plate.

Drew Stubbs got the inning started with a one-out single and Edgar Renteria walked before Joey Votto's RBI base hit got the Reds on the board. Brandon Phillips and Bruce each chased in a run with singles and Rolen followed with a run-scoring double to tie the game. Zambrano was replaced by Marcos Mateo, who uncorked a wild pitch, allowing Bruce to come in with the go-ahead run. Gomes' two-run shot to right-center gave the Reds a 7-4 lead.

Sam LeCure and Bill Bray combined to work a scoreless seventh and eighth inning to bridge the gap for Cordero, who took over for the ninth and tossed a perfect inning to close out the game.

Game Notes

Earlier on Monday, the Reds placed left-handed reliever Aroldis Chapman on the 15-day disabled list with inflammation in his pitching shoulder and recalled right-hander Jordan Smith from its Triple-A affiliate in Louisville... Cincinnati took two of three from the Cubs earlier in the year after taking 12 of the 16 meetings in 2010...Bailey improved to 2-2 in five career starts against the Cubs...Despite taking the loss, Zambrano is still an impressive 16-11 in 31 lifetime starts and five relief outings against Cincinnati.