CUBS 12, REDS 4
Mark DeRosa’s bump-up in the batting order gave the Cubs the lift they needed during a rough stretch.
DeRosa went 5-for-5 with four RBIs, the Cubs had a season-high 20 hits, and Chicago scored seven in the seventh Thursday to beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-4.
DeRosa’s five hits — four singles and a double — were a career high as the Cubs won for just the fifth time in 15 games this month.
“I’ve never done it before. It’s unbelievable. I look back on it, and I’ve done a lot of good things in my career, and I’ve done a lot of bad things. This happens to be a good thing, and it comes at a very good time,” DeRosa said after the Cubs moved a half-game out of the NL Central lead.
“St. Louis — a little bit of scoreboard watching — beat up on Milwaukee today and we swung the bats well,” DeRosa added. “We closed the gap, a half-game out after playing some pretty subpar ball for us.”
Moved up to second in the order in front of Derrek Lee, DeRosa flourished, while Aramis Ramirez and Jacque Jones contributed four hits each as the Cubs salvaged one win in the three-game series against the Reds.
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NL CENTRAL WATCH
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POSITION GAMES BACK LAST GAME NEXT UP
1. BREWERS — L, 8-0 vs. STL Vs. CIN, 7:05 p.m. Fri.
2. CUBS .5 W, 12-4 vs. CIN Vs. STL, 1:20 p.m., Fri. WGN
3. CARDINALS 2.5 W, 9-0 at MIL At CUBS, 1:20 p.m., Fri. WGN
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CUBS HITS
It was a rare sight at Wrigley Field, but Jacque Jones received a standing ovation from the crowd of 40,372 on Thursday afternoon after his 4-for-5 performance. Jones had said on WSCR-AM on Thursday morning that he had heard negative comments from fans in the bleachers during Wednesday night’s game and that it still happens all the time.
– After beginning his professional career in the summer of 2000 as a 20th-round draft pick, Carmen Pignatiello made his major-league debut and pitched a scoreless eighth inning, allowing one hit.
– Services for Cliff Floyd’s father, Cornelius, will be held on Saturday. Donations in memory of Cornelius Floyd can be made to the University of Chicago and sent to: Callie Whelan, 1170 E. 58th St., Chicago, IL 60637.
NEXT SERIES
Vs. St. Louis
Friday: 1:20 p.m., WGN. RH Braden Looper (10-9, 5.08) vs. LH Rich Hill (6-7, 3.85)
Saturday: 2:55 p.m., FOX. RH Anthony Reyes (2-11, 5.48) vs. LH Sean Marshall (5-6, 4.25)
Sunday: 7:05 p.m., ESPN. RH Kip Wells (6-13, 5.24) vs. RH Carlos Zambrano (14-9, 3.86)
Monday: 1:20 p.m., CSN: RH Joel Pineiro (3-2, 4.25) vs. LH Ted Lilly (13-5, 3.74)
