MLB: Cincinnati 6, Chicago Cubs 5

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CHICAGO, May 3 (UPI) -- J.J. Hoover got the final out to stem a Chicago ninth-inning rally Friday and save the Cincinnati Reds' 6-5 win over the Cubs.

Red closer Aroldis Chapman entered the ninth with 6-2 lead but allowed singles to the first three batters he faced. He struck out Anthony Rizzo and got another out but then walked in a run.

Wellington Castillo knocked in two more runs, getting the Cubs within 6-5. Chapman, who allowed four hits and two walks and three runs in 2/3 of an inning, walked Cody Ransom to again load the bases before being pulled.

Hoover came in and was able to close the game with a four-pitch strikeout of Darwin Barney. It was Hoover's first save.

Cincinnati's Joey Votto scored the game's first run and was part of Cincinnati's two-run sixth while Shin-Soo Choo, who drove in a run in the second, scored in the seventh and eighth innings to key the Reds' offense.

Cincinnati starter Mike Leake (2-1) took advantage of the offensive spurt and scattered nine hits over 5 2/3 innings to get the win.

Three of the hits -- doubles by Anthony Rizzo and Alfonso Soriano and a single by Nate Schierholtz -- came in succession in the sixth inning and accounted for the first Chicago runs.

But the Reds were up 4-0 by then and had hung the loss on Carlos Villanueva (1-2), who was charged with four runs. He allowed seven hits and walked two while striking out four in 5 2/3 innings.