May 31, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs right fielder Scott Hairston (21) hits a 3RBI home run during the third inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Reid Compton-USA TODAY Sports

Cody Ransom added a solo shot of his own in the same frame for good measure and the Cubs were well on their way to another rout. On the bump, Matt Garza bounced back from a terrible second start of the season. The righty was pretty much in control all afternoon, with the only hiccup coming in the sixth, when he allowed a pair of runs on three hits and a sac fly. Garza tallied a quality start with four strikeouts for his first W of 2013.

Cubs relievers James Russell and Carlos Villanueva coasted with the big lead to finish off the game and the win streak has hit an exciting five in a row. It has been a joy to see pitching, offense, bullpen, and defense all working together to produce winning baseball this week.

May 25, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Rafael Dolis (48) pitches during the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Reds defeated the Cubs 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

To take Camp’s place in the bullpen, Rafael Dolis was called up for the third time this season. While Dolis was racking up the frequent flier miles, the front office also plucked Eduardo Sanchez off of waivers and optioned him to Triple A. The right handed reliever comes from the rival Cardinals and has respectable WHIP and strikeout to walks numbers despite a 4.26 ERA in a small sample size that is seven appearances and 6 1/3 innings pitch so far this season.

Alex Burnett was a Memorial Day waiver wire pick up from the Orioles and was a timely addition as Kyuji Fujikawa hit the DL yet again. The Japanese veteran had felt a pop in his previous appearance in Cincinnati and news came out on Wednesday, May 29th that the reliever will be requiring Tommy John surgery. The diagnosis means that Fujikawa will be shut down for at least the rest of the 2013 season after signing a two year deal this past off season.

Burnett’s best season came in 2012 with the Twins, where he appeared in 67 games with a 4-4 record and a 3.52 ERA strictly as a reliever. With the injuries and inconsistencies plaguing the 2013 Cubs pen, Burnett at the least will have an opportunity to seize a job if he can prove to be productive. The same opportunity exists for in house prospect Dolis, but the Cubs will really hope to see Carlos Marmol regain his second half 2012 form. Not only to stabilize the bullpen in its current state, but the build up that elusive trade value come late June and July.

Jay Bruce got the scoring started with a one out solo homer. A hit batter and a walk was followed by a RBI single by Ryan Hanigan before the big blow came in the form of a two RBI double by Zack Cozart. Just like that it was 4-0 Reds and Garza was replaced prior to the bottom of the fifth. The Cubs righty’s 92 pitch count played just as much a part in the decision as the four run deficit, if not more.

May 26, 2013; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Kevin Gregg (63) is congratulated by catcher Welington Castillo (53) at the end of the game against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. The Cubs defeated the Reds 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

With that and the six game skid, many Cubs fans that had tuned in probably took their attention away to attend to more entertaining or relaxing activities for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Those that stuck around were soon to be in for a nice surprise.

After all of the heat the bullpen has taken as an unit so far this season, there was a bit of role reversal on Sunday. The relief corp picked up the rare early exit of Cubs starter and combined to keep the home team to just one hit the rest of the way. That fact sounds more impressive when you consider that it came in the fifth during Rafael Dolis‘ lone inning of work. Even Carlos Marmol tossed a scoreless frame despite one walk, and lefty James Russell continued his stellar season with a perfect inning to bring his ERA down to 0.95.

Mean while the Cubs offense finally came to life against Reds starter Johnny Cueto in the seventh. The visitors collected back to back singles after one out thanks to their corner outfielders Alfonso Soriano and Nate Schierholtz. Then with two outs Luis Valbuena hit a single into center field to get the Cubs on the board.

The two out magic turned out to be a late inning theme for the Cubs. After two fairly quick outs to start the eighth, Starlin Castro collected a single. Anthony Rizzo then doubled just down the right field line to make it 4-2. Soriano then launched a 2-1 pitch deep into left center to tie up the ball game.

Kyuji Fujikawa took care of the bottom of of the eighth with three ground ball outs, but the Cubs wasted a lead off Darwin Barney double in the ninth to remind everyone of the RISP woes again. The Japanese reliever then got himself into a little trouble with a one out hit batter and a two out walk. With the way things have been going for the Cubs, the stage seemed primed for another disappointing North Sider loss. But manager Dale Sveum chose to bring in closer Kevin Gregg to get out number 27 and the veteran right hander obliged by getting Brandon Phillips to fly out.

In the top of the tenth, the Cubs quickly produced two outs before Scott Hairston, who had come in as part of the double switch with Kevin Gregg, earned a walk. Welington Castillo then hit a clutch double to plate the go ahead run, the first lead for the visitors all day.

Gregg did not let a walk and a catcher’s interference call rattle him, and the veteran reliever closed out the game for the first Cubs win in a week. Gregg is now 1-0 and the Cubs snapped their six game skid in late inning comeback fashion. After watching early leads of their own dissolve in the first two games of the weekend series, the Cubs gave the Reds a taste of what it was like to be on the losing end.