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Reds beat Cubs with 9th-inning heroics

Aug 20, 2012 - 12:38 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Ryan Hanigan's hit in the bottom of the ninth brought in Xavier Paul with the deciding run, as the Cincinnati Reds clipped the Chicago Cubs, 5-4, in the finale of a four-game set.

Paul led off the final frame against Shawn Camp (3-6) with a pinch-hit triple that landed just inside the right-field line and rolled to the wall. Hanigan followed with a deep drive well over the head of Brett Jackson in center to end the game.

"I thought he might try and jam me, to get a ground ball," Hanigan said. "But I was looking for the heater and he threw it."

It made a winner of Aroldis Chapman (5-4), who tossed a scoreless top of the ninth.

Hanigan knocked in two runs while Jay Bruce and Wilson Valdez added an RBI each for the Reds, who took three of four in the series and have won eight of 10 overall.

Alfonso Soriano knocked in two runs and Dave DeJesus added three hits with two runs scored and an RBI for the Cubs, who have dropped seven of their last 10.

The hosts pushed across a run in the first as, with runners on the corners and two outs, Bruce's single plated Brandon Phillips.

Chicago got a run back in the third as Steve Clevenger worked a leadoff walk, moved up on a Chris Volstad sacrifice and scored on a DeJesus ground-rule double to center.

Cincinnati took a 4-1 lead in the fourth on RBI singles from Valdez and starter Mat Latos along with a sac fly from Hanigan, but the Cubs answered with two in the sixth on a Soriano fly to center and a run-scoring Starlin Castro hit.

DeJesus began the eighth with a single, moved to third on a Bruce error that allowed Luis Valbuena to reach second, and scored on a Soriano groundout for a 4-4 game.

In the top of the ninth, Jackson doubled with one out but was caught stealing second.

"I didn't mind the aggressiveness at all," said Cubs manager Dale Sveum. "You had at least one guy out there trying to win it. I think it shows some character."

Game Notes

Cincinnati posted its ninth walk-off win of 2012 ... The Reds also improved to 9-1-1 in 11 series since the All-Star break ... Soriano has totaled 14 RBI in his last 14 games ... Chicago has lost 15 of its last 19 outings since July 31 ... Latos allowed six hits and four runs -- two earned -- while fanning six and walking three in eight innings ... Volstad lasted six frames, giving up seven hits and four runs ... Following the game, the Cubs announced they claimed pitcher Alex Hinshaw off waivers from the San Diego Padres and transferred pitcher Arodys Vizcaino to the 60-day disabled list.