Three Cincinnati Reds home runs were too much for the Chicago Cubs, who lost 5-3 Saturday. It was the Reds' second straight win over the Cubs in their weekend series at home. It was the first of Saturday's double-header against the Reds.
Johnny Cueto (16-6, 2.44 ERA) gave up a two-run home run to Alfonso Soriano in the first inning, but that was the only damage he allowed in his eight-inning outing. He struck out eight and gave up just three hits. The Cubs got a run off of Aroldis Chapman, who still picked up his 29th save, in the ninth on a single by Welington Castillo that scored Soriano.
Jeff Samardzija (8-11, 4.17 ERA) took the loss. He gave up four runs in five innings, including homers to Todd Frazier, Xavier Paul and Miguel Cairo. Paul's home run in the second was a two-run shot that also scored Frazier. The Reds got their fifth run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Frazier that scored Jay Bruce.
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