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Pena, Ramirez hit consecutive HRs to carry Cubs over Reds

Jun 9, 2011 - 1:02 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Carlos Pena and Aramis Ramirez hit back-to- back home runs in a three-run fourth inning, as the Chicago Cubs snapped an eight-game slide with a 4-1 decision over the Reds in the finale of a three- game set at Great American Ball Park.

Kosuke Fukudome had a pair of doubles and scored the other run on a balk for the Cubs, who won for only the third time in their last 14 games overall.

Ryan Dempster (5-5) worked six solid innings, allowing one run on three hits. He walked one and struck out eight. Carlos Marmol locked down the win with a perfect ninth to register his 11th save of the season.

Jay Bruce had an RBI single for Cincinnati, which had won four of six entering the contest.

Bronson Arroyo (4-6) yielded four runs -- three earned -- on eight hits over 6 1/3 innings. The veteran right-hander fanned three and walked one.

"Bronson threw the ball well today, but just got bit by the longball," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He just has to figure out a way to keep the ball in the ballpark."

Arroyo has given up 16 homers this season.

Dempster worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the first when he retired Miguel Cairo on a pop-up and Fred Lewis on a ground ball.

The Reds, though, put up a run in the third. Drew Stubbs led off the inning with a base hit, stole second, went to third on a groundout and crossed the plate on Bruce's line drive single to right.

Blake DeWitt reached on a error with one away in the fourth and Pena followed with a two-run shot deep into the right field seats. Ramirez then clubbed his third homer of the year to left to make it a 3-1 game.

Chicago retired 12 straight Cincinnati batters. Included in that string was Dempster striking out the side in the sixth inning before he was lifted for Kerry Wood.

The Cubs tacked on another run in the seventh. Fukudome started things with a ground-rule double to left and went to third on a bunt. Later in the inning with runners on the corners and two outs, Jose Arredondo's balk brought in Fukudome.

Wood and Sean Marshall each worked a scoreless inning to bridge the gap for Marmol.

Game Notes

Reds third baseman Scott Rolen missed the game with an illness...Despite the loss, Cincinnati has still won six of eight over Chicago this year and is 18-6 in this series since the start of the 2010 season...Arroyo fell to 9-8 lifetime against the Cubs...Dempster improved to 6-7 with five saves in 39 career appearances versus Cincinnati...The Cubs finished 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 men on base.