Reds stop slide, beat Cubs 8-5
CINCINNATI - Jose Barrero hit a tiebreaking RBI single in Cincinnati's 3-run fifth inning, and the Reds stopped a five-game slide with an 8-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Aristides Aquino hit a 3-run drive for Cincinnati, and Austin Romine doubled home two runs. It was Aquino's first homer since he hit two against the Cubs on May 23.
It was the Reds' highest scoring game since an 8-2 victory over Baltimore on July 30.
Joel Kuhnel (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Alexis Diaz struck out Nelson Velazquez and Ian Happ with the bases loaded in the eighth before finishing his fifth save.
Cincinnati's Joey Votto made his 1,989th career appearance, snapping a tie with Hall of Famer Larry Walker for the most in major league history by players born in Canada.
The teams combined for 4 homers and 10 runs in the first four innings.
Patrick Wisdom gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead with a 2-run drive that squeezed just inside the left-field foul pole in the second. Aquino responded with his fourth homer in the bottom half, a deep drive into the lower deck in left.
Chicago grabbed a 5-4 lead with 3 runs in the fourth. Yan Gomes hit a tying 2-run shot that reached the first row of the second deck in left. Christopher Morel then went deep on the next pitch.
The Reds tied it in the bottom half with help from a balk called on reliever Anderson Espinoza (0-2).
Cincinnati right-hander Justin Dunn was tagged for 5 runs and 7 hits in 3 2/3 innings in his second start since coming off the injured list. He had been sidelined by a right shoulder strain.
Chicago right-hander Keegan Thompson lasted just 1 2/3 innings. He was charged with 4 runs and 2 hits.