Stubbs leads Reds past Cubs 6-5 in 11 innings

Magic number at 3

Drew_Stubbs_20120920003127_JPG

Drew Stubbs #6 of the Cincinnati Reds steals second base as Darwin Barney #15 of the Chicago Cubs takes a wild throw in the fifth inning on September 19, 2012 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
Copyright Getty Images

Advertisement

Posted: 09/20/2012

CHICAGO (AP) -- Drew Stubbs hit a tiebreaking RBI single in the 11th inning Wednesday night and Cincinnati beat the Chicago Cubs 6-5 hours after Reds manager Dusty Baker left the ballpark for chest X-rays.

A team spokesman said the tests were to "rule out pneumonia." Bench coach Chris Speier brought the lineup card to home plate and there was no sign of the 63-year-old Baker during the game.

Brandon Phillips' lazy popup with two out in the 11th on a windy night at Wrigley Field was misplayed by Cubs right fielder David DeJesus, allowing him to reach second. Stubbs then smoked a run-scoring single to left against Alberto Cabrera (0-1).

Logan Ondrusek (5-2) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the 10th to earn the win. Jonathan Broxton earned his fourth save in six chances since joining Cincinnati in July.

Joey Votto reached four times and drove in three runs for the Reds (90-59), who have won three straight to become the second team in the majors to reach 90 wins. Cincinnati also moved a season-high 31 games over .500.

Alfonso Soriano hit his 30th homer for Chicago, which trailed 5-1 after five innings.

Cincinnati lowered its magic number to clinch a playoff spot to one with the Los Angeles Dodgers splitting a doubleheader at Washington. The Reds' magic number for a second NL Central title in three years is three.

The Reds used five straight singles to score three times in the third. Votto drove in a pair with a bases-loaded single to left and Ryan Ludwick singled in Stubbs to make it 4-0.

Votto also doubled in a run in the first.

Reds starter Mike Leake retired his first 11 batters before Anthony Rizzo's two-out single in the fourth. After a walk to Soriano, Starlin Castro singled in Rizzo.

Castro finished with four singles and leads all major league shortstops with 76 RBIs

Soriano hit a long two-run drive onto Waveland in the sixth inning, giving him six career 30-homer seasons, including two with the Cubs. He now has 103 RBIs, one short of matching his career high.

Castro followed with a two-out single and scored on Luis Valbuena's double down the left-field line, trimming the Reds' lead to 5-4. Leake then caught a lackadaisical Valbuena wandering off of second base to end the inning.

The 24-year-old right-hander allowed four runs and six hits over six innings.

The pesky Cubs rallied with two outs in the eighth against J.J. Hoover, who walked three batters - including one that forced in the tying run.

Cubs starter Chris Rusin was tagged for five runs and 10 hits in five innings. The 25-year-old had given up just three runs and nine hits over his last two starts - both of which also lasted five innings.

NOTES: Ludwick was taken out for precautionary reasons in the fifth inning due to left groin tightness. ... Reds LHP Aroldis Chapman said his fatigued left shoulder "feels good" after throwing a bullpen session. Chapman said through an interpreter that he likely needs two or three more bullpens to work on his command. ... The Cubs agreed to a new player development contract with nearby Class-A Kane County. The contract runs through 2014. ... Chicago sends Jason Berken (0-1, 7.20 ERA) to the hill in the series finale Thursday against Johnny Cueto (17-9, 2.92). ... Soriano didn't hit his first home run of the year until May 15. It's his first season with at least 30 homers and 100 RBIs since 2005.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

  • Comments
Advertisement
  • More Reds News
Cliff Lee, Jimmy Rollins help Phillies snap Reds' six-game winning streak
Phils snap Reds' 6-game winning streak

Domonic Brown drove in the tiebreaking run on an infield …

Brandon Phillips' go-ahead sac fly in 10th lifts Reds to 5-4 victory, series sweep of Miami Marlins
Phillips lifts Reds to win, series…

NL RBI leader Brandon Phillips homered in the sixth inning and …

Shin-Soo Choo goes deep twice to help Reds beat Marlins 4-0
Choo's 2 homers help Reds beat Marlins

Shin-Soo Choo hit two homers and four pitchers combined on an …

Reds ace Johnny Cueto to return to rotation Monday against the New York Mets
Cueto to return to rotation Monday

Johnny Cueto will return to the Reds' starting rotation Monday …

Bailey's 6-hitter helps Reds beat Marlins 6-2
Bailey's 6-hitter helps Reds win 6-2

Homer Bailey pitched a six-hitter to earn his first victory …

Reds add third Bark in the Park date
Reds add third Bark in the Park date

For those wanting to take their four-legged friends to the …

Don Lutz's 1st career HR lifts Reds over Brewers 5-1
Lutz's 1st career HR lifts Reds to win

Don Lutz hit his first career home run, a three-run drive off …

Cincinnati Reds Mother's Day Honorary Bat Girl, Josie Shuler inspires
PHOTOS: Reds' Mother's Day 'Bat Girl'

Josie Shuler was selected as the winner of the MLB Mother’s Day…

Jay Bruce homers, doubles twice as Reds batter Brewers 13-7
Bruce homers, doubles twice to lead…

Jay Bruce homered his first time up, then doubled twice during …

Brandon Phillips leads Reds past Brewers 4-3
Phillips leads Reds past Brewers 4-3

Brandon Phillips homered and made a spectacular rally-busting …