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Cubs hope to stay hot in finale with Reds

Aug 7, 2011 - 3:13 PM (Sports Network) - Buoyed by an impressive offensive showing, the Chicago Cubs are on their longest winning streak in nearly three years.

The Cubs blasted the Cincinnati Reds, 11-4, yesterday for their seventh consecutive victory, the longest stretch for the team since also taking seven in a row August 23-29, 2008. Their last eight-game run came that same season, May 26-June 3, a nine-game string.

Chicago has won five consecutive home contests for the first time since June 18-July 3, 2009 - that was a six-game winning streak at Wrigley Field. It will wrap up its set today with the Reds at Wrigley Field.

Starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano homered yesterday, giving Chicago its 13th homer in its last five games.

Randy Wells has had success in the past against the Reds. Today's starter for the Cubs, the right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.64 ERA in seven games vs. Cincinnati. He is coming off a victory at Pittsburgh on Tuesday. On the downside for Wells, he's surrendered a home run in 10 of his 13 starts.

Bronson Arroyo knows plenty about giving up long balls. The Cincinnati right- hander has given up 30 of them, most in the majors. Of his 87 runs allowed, 44 home come via home run. Arroyo is 0-3 over his last six outings and hasn't won since June 25 at Baltimore.

On the positive side, Arroyo is 4-0 with a 1.95 ERA in his last five starts at Wrigley Field, having allowed just one earned run in his last 25 1/3 innings. He's 9-8 with a 2.79 ERA in 24 games (22 starts) when facing the Cubs.

Starlin Castro drove in four runs yesterday for the Cubs. He finished the game 2-for-5 with two runs scored, Carlos Pena drove in three runs on a pair of hits while Reed Johnson scored three times.

"You don't do it without contributions from everyone and the benefit of these is that you get everyone involved in the game," said Chicago manager Mike Quade.

Zambrano (9-6) hit the 23rd home run of his career and went six innings to get the win as he gave up just three runs on six hits with four walks and six strikeouts.

"He (Zambrano) was pretty darn good out there today," said Quade. "He made his pitches today and it was a good workman's performance. It's what you get out of him whenever he goes out there."

Yonder Alonso hit the first home run of his career and drove in two for the Reds, who have lost three straight. Johnny Cueto (7-5) was touched for five runs on seven hits with three walks and two strikeouts over just 3 2/3 innings.

"Zambrano's home run and a couple of defensive mistakes and they're off to the races," said Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker.

Cincinnati second baseman Brandon Phillips left the game in the fifth inning with a sprained right ankle after a collision with center fielder Drew Stubbs in the fourth inning. He is listed as day-to-day.

"I'm all right, I'm living," said Phillips. "It doesn't feel too good and I don't like feeling like this, but that's where I am right now. I was just told to keep off it for now and keep it elevated so it won't swell up on me."

Baker and infielder Miguel Cairo are both approaching milestones. Baker's next victory will be his 298th for the Reds, tying him with Dave Bristol for eighth on the club's all-time list. Cairo has 999 career hits.

The Reds are 18-8 versus the Cubs since the start of last season.