Cubs, Harden charged up over Reds

How's this for one supercharged battery?

Pitcher Rich Harden and catcher Geovany Soto provided all the heat, energy and power the Cubs needed Tuesday night as they shut out the Cincinnati Reds 5-0 on a pleasantly breezy night at Wrigley Field.

Harden fired up fastball after fastball in working 7 innings and striking out 10. He improved his record as a Cub to 3-1 with an ERA of 1.50.

His batterymate Soto not only called a good game behind the plate, but he flashed both power and spark in the fifth inning as he led off with a triple and then scored the game's first run with a veteran-like play off third base on Harden's bunt.

With the victory, the Cubs improved to 77-48 and increased their lead in the National League Central to 6 games over second-place Milwaukee.

"Just good baseball, good heads-up baserunning," said manager Lou Piniella, sounding impressed with a rookie catcher who plays wise beyond his years. "Got us a lead."

Harden and Reds starter Johnny Cueto hooked up in a scoreless duel until Soto led off the home fifth with a triple to right-center.

After Kosuke Fukudome walked, Mark DeRosa struck out, sending Harden, a longtime American League pitcher, to the plate after he already had failed once at bunting in the game.

This time he dropped it toward third base. Soto crept down the line following Reds third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, who got Harden at first.

Soto broke when Encarnacion threw the ball and scored when first baseman Joey Votto's throw home bounced away.

"It's a pretty tough play," Soto said. "I've thought about it before because I've seen it. I've seen it against us in the minor leagues.

"I just followed him down the line. All of a sudden, 'I can score; I can score right here.' I just took a chance headfirst into home plate. He got a bad throw."

Soto admitted it wasn't easy to score. "I thought it was going to be a cruise, but I'm not that fast," he said.

Harden didn't allow a baserunner until Jeff Keppinger singled with one out in the fourth. He allowed only 2 hits.

"I've got to give a lot of credit to Soto, also," Harden said. "He's got a good idea of what he's doing back there. Every game we've worked together, we've been on the same page."

The Cubs broke it open with 4 runs in the eighth, Fukudome capping it with a 2-run single.

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