CINCINNATI, Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Jay Bruce hit Cincinnati's third homer of the game in the 11th inning Thursday, a two-run shot that gave the Reds an 8-6 win over the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago scored four times in the first inning but trailed by two heading into the ninth. An RBI double by Alfonso Soriano and a run-scoring single by Darwin Barney forged a 6-6 tie and brought about extra innings.
With James Russell (1-6) on the mound for the Cubs, Joey Votto led off the 11th with a double. Bruce then hit the first pitch he saw from Russell over the wall in right to give the Reds their third straight win.
Russell was the eighth Chicago pitcher of the game.
Brandon Phillips and Chris Heisey hit solo homers for Cincinnati and the Reds took the lead with a three-run fifth. Heisey drove in the go-ahead run in that inning with an infield single.
Nick Masset (3-5) worked around a one-out walk in the top of the 11th and picked up the win thanks to Bruce's blast.
