Reds win again in extras, beat Cubs 3-2 in 10th

[July 02, 2010]  CHICAGO (AP) -- Pinch-hitter Miguel Cairo singled and scored in the 10th as Cincinnati beat the Chicago Cubs 3-2 Thursday, the Reds' ninth straight extra-innings win on the road.

Drew Stubbs' RBI grounder as the Cubs tried to turn a double play sent the Reds to their eighth victory in 10 games. Cincinnati is a season-high 10 games over .500.

Cincinnati's road winning streak in extra innings dates to June 2009, and is the longest such string in the NL since Atlanta won nine in a row in 1999-2000.

The Cubs dropped 11 games below the break-even mark and fell 10 1/2 games behind NL Central-leading Cincinnati, their lowest point since finishing 2006 at 66-96. Chicago fired manager Dusty Baker after that disappointing season -- he's now guiding the surprising Reds.

The Cubs have lost 11 straight series openers and have scored two runs or fewer in 10 of their last 12 games. They were booed throughout by impatient fans who expected more from a team with baseball's third-highest payroll.

Cairo singled off Bob Howry (1-2) with one out in the 10th and went to third on Jay Bruce's hit-and-run single. Stubbs then grounded to second baseman Ryan Theriot, who threw to shortstop Starlin Castro for an out. With a sliding Bruce bearing down, however, Castro dropped the ball before he could make the relay throw.

Jordan Smith (1-0) pitched a perfect ninth for the victory. Francisco Cordero worked the 10th for his 22nd save, getting Tyler Colvin to ground into a game-ending double play.

The Reds lead the majors with 15 victories in their final at-bat. The Cubs rank first with 19 one-run losses but did rally to tie after trailing 2-0 through seven innings.

Making his major league debut, Cincinnati starter Travis Wood allowed only two hits and one walk in seven shutout innings but was removed after he opened the eighth by walking Geovany Soto and Castro.

After Kosuke Fukudome sacrificed to advance both runners, Colvin singled off Nick Masset to make it 2-all. Colvin took second on the throw to the plate and went to third on Mike Fontenot's pinch-single before Derrek Lee grounded into a double play to end the threat, with second baseman Brandon Phillips making an outstanding pivot and throw.

The Reds loaded the bases with one out in the ninth against Carlos Marmol but the Cubs closer fanned Orlando Cabrera and Joey Votto on full-count pitches out of the strike zone.

Carlos Silva allowed a season-high 11 hits in 7 2-3 innings but kept the Cubs in the game by repeatedly pitching out of trouble. Despite allowing three runs or fewer each time, he hasn't won in four starts after winning his first eight decisions this year.

The Reds scored in the first when Votto singled with two outs and scored on Scott Rolen's triple high off the center-field wall. Votto has reached base in 39 consecutive games, the majors' longest streak of 2010.

Cincinnati made it 2-0 in the eighth, with Cabrera doubling and scoring on Jonny Gomes' two-out single.

NOTES: Carlos Zambrano likely will need some minor league rehab work when the Cubs are ready to have him pitch again, manager Lou Piniella said. Zambrano was suspended by the team after he loudly criticized teammates in the dugout during his June 25 start. The team said he is undergoing counseling for anger issues and won't return until at least after the All-Star break. ... Baker said Chicago is a difficult place to manage "because nobody lets anything go from the past. I was here four out of the 100 years. Most people act like I was here the whole 100." ... The Cubs signed their fifth-round draft pick, OF Matt Szczur.

[Associated Press]

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