CINCINNATI — Jose Barrero hit a tiebreaking RBI single in a three-run fifth inning, and the Cincinnati Reds stopped a five-game slide with an 8-5 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday.
Aristides Aquino hit a three-run homer for the Reds, and Austin Romine doubled home two runs. It was Aquino’s first homer since he hit two against the Cubs on May 23.
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It was the Reds’ highest-scoring game since an 8-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on July 30.
Joel Kuhnel (2-1) pitched two scoreless innings for the win. Alexis Díaz struck out Nelson Velázquez and Ian Happ with the bases loaded in the eighth before finishing his fifth save.
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The Reds’ Joey Votto made his 1,989th career appearance, snapping a tie with Hall of Famer Larry Walker for the most in major-league history by a player born in Canada.
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The teams combined for four homers and 10 runs in the first four innings.
Patrick Wisdom gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead with a two-run drive that squeezed just inside the left-field foul pole in the second. Aquino responded with his fourth homer in the bottom half, a deep drive into the lower deck in left.
The Cubs grabbed a 5-4 lead with three runs in the fourth. Yan Gomes hit a tying two-run shot that reached the first row of the second deck in left. Christopher Morel went deep on the next pitch.
The Reds tied it in the bottom half with help from a balk called on reliever Anderson Espinoza (0-2).
Reds right-hander Justin Dunn was tagged for five runs and seven hits in 3⅔ innings in his second start since coming off the injured list. He had been sidelined by a right shoulder strain.
Cubs right-hander Keegan Thompson lasted just 1⅔ innings. He was charged with four runs and two hits.
Cubs RHP Marcus Stroman (3-5, 4.20 ERA), Monday’s scheduled starter in Washington, allowed five hits and four runs for a no-decision in his last start, also against the Nationals at Wrigley Field.
