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Reds deal Cubs seventh straight loss

Jun 7, 2011 - 4:32 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Jonny Gomes had two hits, including a three- run homer and four RBI, to lead Cincinnati to an 8-2 rout of Chicago in the opener of a three-game series.

Mike Leake (5-2) pitched eight strong innings, allowing two runs while scattering 10 hits and a walk to help the Reds claim their fourth win in seven games.

"He was good. He was very good. He didn't have any strikeouts but he used his defense, and that's what pitching is all about," Reds manager Dusty Baker said about Leake.

Chicago's Matt Garza (2-5) made his first start since landing on the 15-day disabled list May 18 with a right elbow contusion. He allowed four runs on six hits and three walks in four innings as the Cubs' season-high losing streak reached seven games.

"We're in a tough place right now. We're just going to keep grinding out, keep fighting through just like everybody else is doing," said Garza. "We're not going to roll over and I don't think anybody is going to roll over for us."

Darwin Barney scored on a sacrifice fly by Carlos Pena in the first inning to give the Cubs an early 1-0 lead. Barney reached first on a fielder's choice and advanced to third on a Starlin Castro single.

That was be the only time in the contest Chicago had the lead.

Jay Bruce led off the second with a double and came around to score on a single by Gomes to knot the game at one.

The Reds took a 2-1 advantage in the third when Drew Stubbs homered into the right-field bleachers.

Cincinnati loaded the bases with one out in the fourth on a Miguel Cairo walk, a Ryan Hanigan single and a Paul Janish walk. Leake then singled on a grounder through the right side of the infield to bring home Cairo. Stubbs followed with a grounder to short that was almost an inning-ending double play, but he just beat the throw to first and Hanigan crossed the plate. Brandon Phillips lined out to second to end the inning as the Reds made the score 4-1.

Chicago got a run back in the fifth after Kosuke Fukudome doubled and moved to third on a infield single by Barney. Castro's sacrifice fly to deep right field made it a two-run game.

But Cincinnati took control of the game in the bottom half after Joey Votto was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Bruce doubled to put men on second and third with no outs. Gomes followed with a shot over the left-field wall to give the Reds a 7-2 lead.

The Reds added their final run after they loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. Bruce singled, Gomes was hit by a pitch and Hanigan walked to fill the bags. Janish then hit a grounder to third that may have been an inning ending double play, but Aramis Ramirez took his eye off the ball before it went into his glove and it bounced away, allowing Bruce to score on the fielding error.

Game Notes

Pena has reached base safely in 27 of his last 30 contests this season...Leake threw a career-high 114 pitches...Each team had 10 hits.