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Harden pitches Cubs past Reds

Aug 20, 2008 - 4:43 AM CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Rich Harden pitched seven sterling innings and earned his first win at Wrigley Field in four outings as the Chicago Cubs stopped the Cincinnati Reds, 5-0, on Tuesday.

Harden (3-1) allowed two hits and no walks, striking out 10. In his seven outings as a Cub since being traded by the Oakland Athletics prior to the non-waiver trade deadline, he has reached double-digit strikeouts four times - twice as many as he previously had in his career with the Athletics.

"I felt pretty good out there tonight, but I believe pitching is contagious," Harden said. "Our starting rotation has been pitching extremely well. I felt it was my obligation to keep it going."

The righthander has a 1.50 ERA in the National League and has struck out 59 in 42 innings.

"I haven't seen them before and they haven't seen me," Harden said. "I still feel the pitcher has an advantage the first time he pitches against a team. Eventually hitters make adjustments, but tonight it worked out for me."

Harden also helped his own cause, plating Geovany Soto for Chicago's first run with a sacrifice bunt in the fifth against Reds starter Johnny Cueto.

"I came down the line as far as the third baseman was and when he didn't look me back, I decided to go home," Soto said. "I think I was lucky to be safe because the ball hit the bat after the throw."

The Cubs' All-Star catcher was also impressed by Harden's dominance.

"Rich and I got into a good groove early," Soto said. "All of his pitches were working extremely well, it was nice to get to be able to get him a win."

Cueto (8-12) was dominant at times as well - tossing seven stellar frames and surrendering one run and four hits - but was unable to match his counterpart's brilliance.

"It's a shame somebody had to lose that game, both of those guys pitched their hearts out," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "We just made the mental mistakes tonight, that cost us the ball game."

Harden was given some insurance in the eighth as Derrek Lee laced an RBI single and Aramis Ramirez followed with a run-scoring double to increase Chicago's bulge to 3-0 against reliever Mike Lincoln.

After an intentional walk to Soto, Kosuke Fukudome connected on a two-run single to round out the scoring against Bill Bray to round out the scoring.

Leading the Milwaukee Brewers (72-55) by six games, Chicago (77-48) has not only a firm grasp on the NL Central Division, but also the best record in the NL.

The Reds have dropped 10 of their last 12.

"Harden is a number one pitcher, guys like that can get you out in so many ways," Reds outfielder Corey Patterson said. "His velocity changes from pitch to pitch, his split-finger pitch is tough to pick up. He is one very tough pitcher."