Garza, Ramirez lead Cubs to 4-3 win over Reds
Matt Garza pitched eight strong innings, Aramis Ramirez had a tiebreaking two-run single, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 on Monday.
Garza (8-10) gave up six hits and three runs — one earned — while striking out eight and walking three to win for just the second time at home since June 27. Carlos Marmol finished up for his 32nd save.
Ramirez had his two-run single in the fifth, walked twice and scored a run. Starlin Castro added a single, walk and two runs.
Dontrelle Willis (0-5) allowed six hits and four runs over seven innings, striking out eight and walking five on a crisp day at Wrigley Field. Drew Stubbs singled, walked and scored a run, Yonder Alonso had two singles, a run and an RBI.
With a game-time temperature of 62 degrees and a 21 mph wind howling in from center field, it was a day made for the pitchers.
Willis made his 200th career start looking for his first big-league win since June 5, 2010. He has won just three of his last 38 starts, going back to 2008.
The Reds haven't scored more than three runs for Willis in any of his 11 starts this season.
Garza had his own problems with support this season, entering with just four wins in 14 starts at Wrigley Field despite a 2.76 home ERA.
Stubbs walked and scored on Alonso's single in the first to get the Reds on the scoreboard first.
Willis retired the first nine Cubs in order, three by strikeout. He threw just 29 pitches in his first three innings, 24 for strikes.
The left-hander lost track of the strike zone in the fourth, walking the bases full. Soriano tied the score with a first-pitch single to left but Willis recovered to leave the bases loaded.
He got two quick outs in the fifth, but five straight Cubs hitters reached as they scored three runs. Castro singled with two outs. Willis could have escaped the inning, but Alonso couldn't track down Reed Johnson's high fly ball into the swirling wind in left. The ball stuck in the ivy, sending Castro back to third. Ramirez then lined a single to left, putting the Cubs up 3-1.
Two batters later, Willis threw a wild pitch with the bases loaded, driving in Ramirez and capping the Cubs' rally.
The Reds cut the lead to two when Alonso scored an unearned run on a Devin Mesoraco's groundout in the seventh, the rookie's first career RBI. Cincinnati pulled within a run when Castro misplayed Joey Votto's grounder in the eighth, allowing Brandon Phillips to score.
Stubbs walked and stole second in the third, but ran the Reds out of a scoring opportunity by taking off for third on a routine fly out and getting doubled off second base. Stubbs struck out twice, increasing his NL-high total to 184.