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Reds roll past Cubs, finish three-game sweep

May 6, 2013 - 1:14 AM Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Todd Frazier drove in a pair of runs and Joey Votto went 3-for-5 with an RBI double, with the duo leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-4 decision over the Chicago Cubs for the team's ninth straight victory at Wrigley Field.

Frazier and Shin-Soo Choo both finished with two hits to help Cincinnati sweep the three-game weekend set and wrap up a 10-game road trip with a 5-5 record.

Mat Latos (3-0) had a string of six consecutive quality starts to begin the season halted, but still managed to snare the win after allowing three runs and striking out six over a five-inning stint. Three Cincinnati relievers combined for four frames of one-run ball to close out the contest, with J.J. Hoover working a scoreless ninth for his second save of the year.

"It was hard fought, it wasn't easy," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

Alfonso Soriano swatted a two-run double for Chicago and David DeJesus went 2- for-5 with a run scored in the loss, the Cubs' fourth in a row overall. Edwin Jackson (0-5) was tagged for four runs and eight hits through five innings to remain winless in 2013.

Both starting pitchers cruised through the opening three innings, but Jackson was hit hard during a top of the fourth in which the Reds put up a trio of runs.

Votto and Brandon Phillips started things off with consecutive singles before Jay Bruce laced a double down the left-field line to bring in the first score. Frazier then singled up the middle to plate both Phillips and Bruce for a 3-0 Cincinnati lead.

"I felt pretty good today, couldn't avoid the big inning," Jackson said.

The Reds increased the margin an inning later. Choo singled and advanced to third on a throwing error by Cubs catcher Dioner Navarro after stealing second, then crossed the plate on a Zack Cozart sacrifice fly.

Latos worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth, which he helped create by walking two, but struggled badly as the Cubs closed the gap with a two-out rally in the fifth.

Singles by Starlin Castro and Anthony Rizzo put two on for Soriano, whose blooper into center fell between a colliding Phillips and Choo for a double that scored both runners. Nate Schierholtz then dropped in a base hit that plated Soriano and cut the deficit to 4-3.

The Reds regained some space in the top of the seventh, with Votto driving in Donald Lutz with a double off Shawn Camp and Phillips knocking home Cozart, who reached base earlier on a walk, with a sacrifice fly that gave Cincinnati a 6-3 advantage.

DeJesus doubled against Sam LeCure to open Chicago's half of the inning, then later scored on a groundout off the bat of Rizzo. The Reds countered in the eighth, however, a frame that began when Cubs reliever Kameron Loe walked Frazier and pinch-hitter Jack Hannahan in succession.

After an infield single by Devin Mesoraco loaded the bases, Lutz beat out a potential double-play grounder as Frazier came in to restore a three-run lead.

Game Notes

The win was the 1,599th of Reds manager Dusty Baker's career, which tied Tommy Lasorda -- Baker's former skipper as a player with the Dodgers -- for 18th place on baseball's all-time list ... Chicago's three-run fifth ended a string of 21 consecutive scoreless innings for Latos, which matched the longest of his career (May 1-18, 2010 with San Diego) ... Cubs second baseman Darwin Barney went 0-for-4 and is now hitless in 15 straight at-bats ... Cincinnati has now taken 20 of the last 25 meetings between the NL Central foes.