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The Leading Logic In Sports Handicapping |
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CHICAGO (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Reds couldn't do much against
Ryan Dempster and Carlos Zambrano in the first two games of
their series against the Chicago Cubs. With the wind blowing
out, Thursday was an entirely different story.
Adam Dunn highlighted a long-ball barrage with a shot that
cleared the right field bleachers at Wrigley Field as the Reds
avoided a sweep with a 12-7 victory over the Cubs.
Held to a combined seven hits in the previous two contests,
Cincinnati broke out with seven home runs against starter Ted
Lilly (9-6) and the Chicago bullpen. David Ross belted two,
Edwin Encarnacion, Brandon Phillips, Ken Griffey Jr., Joey
Votto and Dunn also homered for the Reds, who matched a season
high.
"I didn't realize it was that many," Cincinnati manager Dusty
Baker said. "I just wanted them to keep coming. I was looking at
the scoreboard and saying, 'nine more outs or whatever' - hoping
to get this win."
In the sixth inning, Dunn's blast off Jon Lieber - which gave
the Reds a 10-5 lead - bounced off an apartment building after
landing on Sheffield Avenue beyond the right field fence. It
was his 24th of the season and 23rd at Wrigley Field, the most
of an active opponent.
Bronson Arroyo (7-7) recorded the win despite allowing five runs
in five innings. He was not sharp, but benefited from the Reds'
power surge.
"In this ballpark, the ball can fly out when the wind is blowing
out," Arroyo said. "We have some guys with power, so I am not
surprised when our guys start hitting home runs."
All five Chicago pitchers gave up at least one homer, with Lilly
surrendering two. He was unable to follow up the strong outings
by Dempster and Zambrano, allowing four runs and six hits in 2
2/3 innings.
"It's a mental grind when something like that happens and you
just have to try to battle through it," Cubs catcher Geovanny
Soto said. "At certain points, you start to think you don't know
what else to do. You just have to work with the pitchers and try
to get out of it."
After Ryan Theriot's two-run single put the Cubs ahead, 3-1, in
the second, Lilly coughed up the lead in the third, when the
Reds scored three runs. Phillips' two-run homer made it 4-3.
"I didn't pitch very well today," Lilly said. "I knew it would
be a battle from the beginning. It was a real ugly inning (in
the third)."
Lilly was pulled quickly by manager Lou Piniella, departing with
the Cubs only down a run. Michael Wuertz escaped a first-and jam
in the third , but Wuertz surrendered a three-run homer to
Griffey in the fourth that made it 7-3. He also allowed
Encarnacion's sacrifice fly in the inning.
"I don't think (Lilly) had good stuff," Piniella said. "He will
get a nice breather now until the second half and he will be
much fresher and much stronger."
Mike Fontenot's two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth slice
the deficit to 8-5, but Ross' first homer in the fifth and
Dunn's tape-measure drive in the sixth - both off Lieber -
restored the Reds' five-run cushion.
Ross added another solo homer in the seventh and Votto completed
the onslaught in the ninth. The Reds finished with 18 hits.
"When your pitcher goes out and gives up some runs, it's nice to
be able to answer right back for him," Ross said.
The Cubs had a chance to climb back into the game in the
seventh, when they closed within 10-6 after third baseman
Encarnacion threw away a potential double-play grounder.
However, with runners on the corners and no outs, Bill Bray
induced Ryan Theriot - the next batter - to hit another grounder
to third. This time, Encarnacion was able to start a dou
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