Apr 13, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Arismendy Alcantara (7) is chased by shortstop Starlin Castro (13) after hitting a walk off single against the Cincinnati Reds in the 10th inning during the game at Wrigley Field. Photo Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — Arismendy Alcantara drove in Jorge Soler with a 10th-inning, walk-off single as the Chicago Cubs rallied to a 7-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
Alcantara’s hit came with the bases loaded and one out in the 10th. Soler dashed home after the Cubs second baseman lined a single to right off of right-hander Burke Badenhop on an 0-2 count.
Reds left-hander Manny Parra had loaded the bases with none out and departed in favor of Badenhop, who got one out before giving up the game-winning hit.
Cubs reliever Hector Rondon (1-0) worked one inning for the victory, the Cubs third straight.
Parra (0-1) took the loss as the Reds dropped their third in a row.
The Reds led 6-4 in the eighth inning before Soler clubbed a two-run homer to center off reliever Jumbo Diaz for a 6-6 tie.
Reds starter Mike Leake gave up three runs in the first inning but just one run and three hits over the next six to wind up with no decision. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits, struck out four and issued one intentional walk.
Cubs left-handed starter Jon Lester also did not factor in a decision. He gave up six earned runs on 10 hits while striking out four.
Soler was 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBIs while left fielder Chris Coghlan went 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI.
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips was 4-for-5 and scored twice, right fielder Jay Bruce and left fielder Marlon Byrd each went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.
The Reds broke a 3-3 tie with three runs off Lester in the sixth, which proved to be his final inning.
Byrd doubled home Phillips with one out, and Byrd came home on Bruce’s double to deep right. Shortstop Zack Cozart grounded into what could have been an inning-ending double play, but a throw to first was late and Bruce crossed the plate to make it 6-3.
Coghlan’s second home run of the season cut the deficit to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth. His shot landed in between steel beams that will be right-field bleachers later this summer.
The Reds put Lester in a 3-0 hole with four first-inning hits.
First baseman Joey Votto tripled into the right-field corner with one out and came home on third baseman Todd Frazier’s double down the right-field line for a quick 1-0 lead.
Frazier advanced to third on Phillips’ single to right and scored on Byrd’s infield ground-out. Bruce made it 3-0 with an RBI hit to shallow left that brought home Phillips.
The Cubs replied with three runs in their half of the inning off Leake.
Soler collected two RBIs with his first homer of the season, driving in first baseman Anthony Rizzo with a one-out blast to the still-under-construction left-field bleachers.
Coghlan followed with a double and scored on Starlin Castro’s looping single to left.
NOTES: The series opener at Wrigley Field was the Reds’ first game away from Great American Ball Park and kicked off an 11-day, 10-game trip that includes stops in St. Louis and Milwaukee. … After pitching 5 2/3 innings Sunday in a rehab start at Louisville, RHP Homer Bailey rejoined the Reds on Monday in Chicago. He could start in St. Louis next weekend. … RF Jay Bruce entered Monday with 184 home runs, two shy of tying Vada Pinson for 10th on the Reds’ all-time list. … The Reds called up RHP Josh Smith from Triple-A Louisville and optioned INF Chris Dominguez to their Triple-A affiliate. … 3B Kris Bryant warmed up for his expected call-up to the Cubs this week with a homer and three RBIs for the second straight game in Triple-A Iowa’s 7-2 victory at Memphis on Sunday. … LF Chris Denorfia went 1-for-2 on Sunday in the first game of a rehab assignment at Myrtle Beach, Fla. … Chicago RHP Jake Arrieta (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season Tuesday. He has not allowed an earned run in 23 innings dating back to last season. Cincinnati RHP Anthony DeSclafani (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will make his second start of the season Tuesday as well.
