Jay Bruce drove in two runs and Mat Latos pitched seven strong innings as the Cincinnati Reds took a 4-1 win over the Chicago Cubs in the finale of a three-game series on Wednesday.
Latos (1-0) gave up just a run on five hits while striking out five and Joey Votto and Skip Schumaker each drove in a run for the Reds, who have won four of their last five.
Starlin Castro drove in the only run of the game for the Cubs, who have lost four of their past five. Edwin Jackson (5-8) gave up all four runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
In the first inning, Bruce doubled to right with two outs to score Todd Frazier. Votto, though, was nailed at home to end the inning.
Chicago had just one baserunner through the first three innings, but got on the board in the fourth as Ryan Sweeney doubled to start the inning and Castro singled to batters later to tie the game. Luis Valbuena singled, but Nate Schierholtz and John Baker popped out to end the frame.
Cincinnati went back on top in the sixth as Frazier walked to start the frame and Votto scored him with a double. After Devin Mesoraco singled, Bruce brought home Votto with a double.
Chris Heisey then struck out and James Russell took over for Jackson, but Schumaker laid down a perfect suicide squeeze for a 4-1 lead.
Jonathan Broxton tossed a flawless eighth for Cincinnati and Aroldis Chapman allowed a two-out double from Justin Ruggiano before striking out Mike Olt to end the game and pick up his 14th save of the season.
[SportsNetwork.com]
