Cubs hit 3 HRs, snap 5-game skid

Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Mike Olt, Welington Castillo, and Darwin Barney each hit a home run to lift the Chicago Cubs to a 8-4 win over the Reds to snap a five-game losing streak.

Edwin Jackson allowed two earned runs on eight hits and struck out five over five-plus innings.

The Cubs offense worked Reds’ starter Tony Cingrani deep into counts, with 32 pitches in the first inning and they chased him after five innings at 104 pitches.

Justin Ruggiano hit a RBI single to left to score Emilio Bonifacio in the first for a 1-0 lead before Mike Olt pulled the Cubs’ first home run down the left field foul pole for a 2-0 lead after the second. It was Olt’s third of the season.

With the bases loaded, Starlin Castro knocked in another run on a fielder’s choice in the third for a 3-0 lead.

The Reds got on the board in the sixth when Devin Mesoraco hit a RBI double to left and Zack Cozart knocked in another run to cut the Cubs’ lead to 3-2.

The Cubs regained their three-run lead when Darwin Barney hit a home run – his first of the season – to left and Junior Lake added another with a RBI single to center to give the Cubs a 6-2 lead after the sixth.

Jay Bruce hit an RBI single to left field then Joey Votto scored on a throwing error by Olt to make it 6-4 in the seventh.

Castillo put the Reds away in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run home run for a 8-4 lead. It was his third of the season.

Hector Rondon and Pedro Strop pitched the final two innings, shutting down Cincinnati to take game two of the series, 8-4. The Cubs will attempt to win their first series this season on Sunday afternoon.

The Cubs will send Carlos Villanueva (1-3, 11.57 ERA) to the mound against Homer Bailey (0-1, 8.16 ERA).