CHICAGO — Starlin Castro delivered the winning hit on an RBI single in the 11th inning and the Chicago Cubs beat the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 on Sunday night.
The Cubs lead the majors with eight walk-off victories and took three of four games in the series. Castro had a walk-off hit for the second consecutive night after he also drove in the winning run in Saturday’s 4-3 victory over the Reds.
Chris Coghlan doubled just past left fielder Kristopher Negron and scored on Castro’s single to left.
Center fielder Dexter Fowler’s sac fly tied it 1-1 in the seventh.
Catcher David Ross scored his first run of the season after he doubled and advanced on a sac bunt.
The Reds loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth but were unable to capitalize. First baseman Joey Votto singled, third baseman Todd Frazier doubled and right fielder Jay Bruce was intentionally walked before Jason Motte got two flyouts and a strikeout.
Cubs starter Jon Lester allowed a run and five hits and struck out four in seven innings. He bounced back from allowing 11 runs in 9 1/3 innings in his last two starts. Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani gave up a run and six hits, struck out five and walked two in 6 1/3 innings.
The Reds took a one-run lead on second baseman Brandon Phillips’ single to shallow center in the sixth. Center fielder Billy Hamilton scored after he doubled and stole third. Phillips attempted to score on Votto’s double and touched the plate with his hand. He was initially ruled safe, but the call was overturned after replay review.
The Cubs won another challenge in the bottom of the sixth. A review confirmed Coghlan’s double was fair when the ball struck the right-field line. Yet, the Cubs stranded him after a flyout and a strikeout.
The Cubs won seven of nine games against the Reds this season.
Lester retired the first eight batters he faced before Hamilton hit a two-out single in the third. Hamilton stole second and third, but Lester got Phillips to ground out.
Negron had the Reds’ second hit, a two-out double struck into the left field ivy in the fifth. Lester then struck out DeSclafani.
The Cubs had one on in the fifth when Bruce made a diving grab of an Anthony Rizzo line drive to end the inning.
NOTES: CF Billy Hamilton stole a career-high five bases, two in the third, one in the sixth and two in the 10th. … A pitch by Reds LHP Aroldis Chapman in the bullpen got away and struck first base umpire Ron Kulpa’s arm in the ninth. Kulpa remained in the game. … To help their bullpen, the Cubs recalled RHP Brian Schlitter from Triple-A Iowa and optioned OF Junior Lake to Iowa before Sunday’s game. Schlitter posted a 1.13 ERA with five saves in 14 relief appearances at Iowa. He was 0-2 with an 8.10 ERA in nine appearances in two previous stints with the Cubs this season. Lake hit .224 (13-for-58) with one home run and five RBIs in 21 games with Chicago. … Reds 2B Brandon Phillips returned to the starting lineup and led off Sunday after missing four starts due to a strained left groin. He pinch-hit Friday and Saturday.