Manager Lou Piniella got lost on his way to the ballpark. Starter Ted Lilly lasted a season-low two innings. And the Cubs' losing streak reached a season-high six games against a team already eliminated from the race.
Lilly (13-9) gave up five runs, including Votto's 18th homer, before his quick exit. The left-hander has started four times against the Reds this season and lost all four. Bruce hit his 16th homer off Jon Lieber for a 9-0 lead in the fourth inning, silencing the thousands of blue-shirted Cubs fans in the stands.
Right-hander Bronson Arroyo (14-10) won his fourth straight start, allowing one run in 6 1-3 innings of a game that kicked off the Cubs' longest road trip of the season.
So much for returning to the scene of one of their best moments.
The Cubs clinched the NL Central title at Great American Ball Park last season, when they won 85 games and got knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. They've had the World Series
- something they haven't won in 100 years - in the back of their minds all season long.
Until the past week, they've played like they could very well get there. They've already won 85 games
- most in the NL - and have been in first place since May 11.
September has been disastrous. Ace Carlos Zambrano got an injection in his sore pitching shoulder on Thursday and will miss at least one start. Right-hander Rich Harden also will miss a start because of a bothersome arm.
The Cubs can't even get to the ballpark without losing their way.
Piniella and first base coach Matt Sinatro left Chicago at 8 a.m. for a five-hour drive to Cincinnati. With Sinatro driving and Piniella napping, they missed a turnoff and wound up in northeast Ohio
- the wrong end of the state.
