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Reds end season on a high note, beat Cubs

Sep 30, 2007 - 9:24 PM By Gary Schatz PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CINCINNATI (Ticker) - On the final day of the 2007 regular season, the Cincinnati Reds let a few rookies shine.

Joey Votto homered and drove in five runs and Homer Bailey hung in long enough to lead the Reds to an 8-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.

Rookie Ryan Hanigan had two hits and drove in a pair for Cincinnati, which snapped a seven-game losing streak. The National League Central Division champion Cubs originally planned to rest all their starters on Sunday in preparation for the playoffs, but most asked manager Lou Piniella for a couple of at-bats.

Alfonso Soriano was one of them.

He opened the game against Bailey, the prized Cincinnati Reds rookie, with his 33rd home run of the season.

That marked Soriano's 14th homer in September, breaking Ernie Banks' record for home runs in September. It was his major league record seventh leadoff blast this season and 12th on the season - one short of his own record set in 2003.

"I am happy to have the record," Soriano said. "Everybody knows who Ernie Banks is. I am excited to go back to the playoffs."

Soriano singled in two runs in the third and added a double before he and the rest of the starters departed.

Votto, who the Reds drafted in the second round out of high school in 2002, doubled in the third to even the score at 4-4 and put his team ahead with a three-run blast off Ryan Dempster (2-7) in the fourth.

"It was nice to see Joey Votto drive in five runs and Homer Bailey pitch relatively well," Cincinnati interim manager Pete Mackanin said.

Mackanin will be considered for the permanent job but the Reds will seek other applicants.

"Bob Castellini (the team's owner) told me this morning that he appreciated what I did but it is an important decision for us," Mackanin said. "I told him that I understand. I am sure there are some players that want me here and some that don't but the most important people are the owners and (general manager) Wayne Krivsky. They have my number."

Bailey (4-2) lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing four runs and eight hits while walking four and striking out five.

"I couldn't find my rhythm early in the game and tried to slow things down," Bailey said. "I didn't have my good fastball so, here's my change up, here's a curve. The offense bailed me out."

Ted Lilly started for the Cubs and retired all six batters in his planned two innings. The Cubs then used seven pitchers to finish the season.

"Once I got out there, I didn't want to come out, but I understand it," Lilly said. "They're just getting me ready for Thursday."

The Cubs will start the playoffs with two games in Arizona Wednesday and Thursday. Carlos Zambrano will pitch the first game and Lilly will start on Thursday.

"We got there. We had some bumpy road, we really have,". Piniella said. "But our team endured. We've been in a tough pennant race the last six or seven weeks. I think that will pay some dividends in the postseason."

The Cubs were 2-4 against Arizona this season. The Diamondbacks won two of three in both ballparks.

"They're in the playoffs for a reason," Lilly said.

"They played us tough," Piniella said. "We had some close games with them. They're a good young team. They've got good pitching. But we feel we can go in there and win."

Jason Marquis was slated to pitch one inning on Sunday but didn't complete his third inning allotment.

"Marquis hasn't really pitched well now the last two or three times out," Piniella said. "But I'm not worried about today."

Jason Ellison singled before Marquis struck out the next two hitters in the third. He then walked Jeff Keppinger before Hanigan drove in his first major league run with a single to center field.

Bill Bray, Todd Coffey, Eddie Guardado and Mike Stanton combined for 3 1/3 hitless innings to protect the lead.