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Reds rally past Cubs in rubber game

Apr 5, 2007 - 7:51 PM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Reds were just fine once Jason Marquis left the game.

Unable to figure out Marquis, the Reds rallied for four runs against the Chicago Cubs' bullpen en route to a 5-2 victory in the rubber game of a three-game series.

Despite being a major disappointment with St. Louis last season when he pitched to a 6.02 ERA and allowed 35 homers, Marquis was signed to a three-year, $21 million contract by the Cubs.

Marquis was outstanding in his debut for his new team, allowing one run and four hits in six innings. The righthander walked two, struck out one and departed with a 2-1 lead.

The effort by Marquis followed up Ted Lilly's solid outing in his debut in the Cubs' 4-1 win on Wednesday. Lilly signed a four-year, $40 million contract as a free agent.

But unlike Lilly, Marquis failed to receive enough help from his bullpen to secure a victory.

Bob Howry (0-1) started the seventh for the Cubs and promptly surrendered a leadoff single to Scott Hatteberg. After a sacrifice and groundout, pinch hitter Jeff Conine delivered an RBI single to tie the game.

Howry walked Ryan Freel before being replaced by lefthander Will Ohman, who uncorked a wild pitch. The wild pitch proved costly as a passed ball by Michael Barrett allowed Conine to score and give the Reds a 3-2 lead.

Hatteberg provided the final margin with a two-run homer in the eighth off Scott Eyre.

Victor Santos (1-0), who replaced starter Kyle Lohse with one out in the seventh, retired the only two batters he faced for the win.

Reds manager Jerry Narron used three other relievers to bridge the gap to closer David Weathers, who worked a perfect ninth for his first save.

Lohse also had little trouble with the 35-degree game-time temperature and allowed two runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. The righthander walked one and struck out three.

Mark DeRosa reached Lohse for a solo homer in the second inning to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead.

After Edwin Encarnacion delivered an RBI single in the fourth to tie the game, Aramis Ramirez's run-scoring double in the fifth gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead. Ramirez went 3-for-4.