CINCINNATI, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- Starlin Castro went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer and scored four times Monday, helping power the Chicago Cubs past Cincinnati 12-8.
Castro also stroked an RBI double while raising his National League-leading hits total to 190 as the Cubs took the opener of a four-game set.
Aramis Ramirez added three hits and two RBI, including a solo homer, and Alfonso Soriano knocked in three with a single and double as the Cubs banged out 16 hits.
Rodrigo Lopez (5-6) earned the win despite coughing up nine hits -- including four home runs -- through 5 1/3 innings.
Brandon Phillips went deep twice while Devin Mesoraco and Juan Francisco also homered for Cincinnati.
Reds starter Dontrelle Willis (0-6) lasted only 3 1/3 innings, getting pounded for eight runs on nine hits.
