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Hamilton's blast helps Reds outlast Cubs in wild affair

Aug 16, 2007 - 6:35 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Josh Hamilton has fallen out of the National League Rookie of the Year race, but he put a wrench in the National League Central playoff race.

Hamilton hit a go-ahead, pinch-hit, two-run homer in the eighth inning to help the Cincinnati Reds outslug the Chicago Cubs, 11-9, on Wednesday.

It was the 15th homer of the season for Hamilton and first since he came off the disabled list on Sunday after missing 27 games with a sprained right wrist.

During that time Hamilton was passed by Milwaukee's Ryan Braun in the Rookie of the Year balloting.

"I'm not worried about that award," Hamilton said. "Right now my focus is to try and help the team any way I can."

Rookie Ryan Jorgensen, who recorded his first major league hit - a two-run homer - in the second, led off the frame with a single and Hamilton blasted a 2-2 fastball from Bob Howry (5-7) to left field for an 11-9 lead.

"Before that pitch I asked the lord for a little help," Hamilton said. "The first few pitches I was over swinging. I was looking offspeed because I hadn't seen it yet, I got into position and got into it."

Hamilton's timely home run made a winner of Bill Bray (1-0), who pitched two scoreless innings. Jared Burton (4-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and closer David Weathers worked around a leadoff single in the ninth to record his 24th save in 30 chances.

"Bray pitched extremely well. We like what we saw from him," Reds manager Pete Mackanin said. " Weathers did a nice job closing out the game for us."

Meanwhile, Jorgensen had a debut to remember.

In his first at-bat of the season, Jorgenson hit a two-run homer off Cubs starter Ted Lilly in the second. Jorgensen was called up on Tuesday from Class AAA Louisville to replace catcher David Ross, who is on the disabled list with a concussion.

"I texted a few of my friends before the game and said I would go yard in my first at-bat," Jorgensen said. "My family flew in before the game, so this is like a fairy tale come true."

Jason Kendall hit his first home run since June 13 and drove in three runs for Chicago (60-59), which trails the Milwaukee Brewers (62-58) by 1 1/2 games in the division and has the St. Louis Cardinals (57-60) breathing down their neck, two games back.

"It seems like we are in a pennant race but I'm not to damn sure," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "It sure seems like it though."

Chicago, which has lost four straight, held a 9-6 lead in the sixth but the bullpen added to its woes.

Michael Wuertz relieved an ineffective Lilly and fared no better, surrendering a leadoff homer to Adam Dunn. After Jeff Conine reached on a single, Wuertz allowed an RBI double to Edwin Encarnacion to cut the lead to 9-8.

Wuertz threw a wild pitch before recording an out and departing in favor of Carlos Marmol, who allowed a game-tying sacrifice fly to Scott Hatteberg.

Chicago took a 7-6 lead in the fourth when Aramis Ramirez led off the frame with a solo homer off reliever Victor Santos. Ramirez homered in his return to the lineup in Tuesday's 6-5 loss after being out since August 6 with right wrist soreness.

Kendall then added to the lead with a two-run blast - his first as a Cub.

Even Lilly, who entered the game 8-1 with a 2.90 ERA in his last nine starts, could not stop the bleeding for the Cubs. The lefthander was tagged for six runs and six hits in five innings and left with a 9-6 lead.

"I can't come up with any excuses why I didn't get it done," Lilly said. "I didn't make good pitches my command wasn't like I needed it to be."

His opposition, rookie Phil Dumatrait, allowed five runs and five hits in two innings in his third career start.