Jonathan Herrera singled home the tiebreaking run in the 11th inning, and David Ross followed with a bases-loaded double that sent the Chicago Cubs to a 7-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.
Anthony Rizzo homered, doubled and started Chicago's winning rally with a single off Burke Badenhop (0-1) as the Reds' bullpen failed again. Herrera singled home the go-ahead run, and Ross doubled home two more.
Starting pitcher Travis Wood drove in the final run with a pinch-hit grounder.
Jason Motte (1-0) got Jay Bruce to foul out with the bases loaded in the 10th inning, keeping it tied at 3. Hector Rondon retired the side in order for his fourth save in five chances.
Jon Lester, the Cubs' biggest offseason acquisition, remained winless in four starts. He got a six-year, $155 million deal last December that included a $30 million signing bonus — a record for a major leaguer.
Lester allowed three runs in six innings and fanned a season-high 10 batters. He has allowed at least three runs in each start. The left-hander couldn't slow down Billy Hamilton, who singled twice, stole three bases and scored a pair of runs.
Mike Leake gave up three runs in seven innings, striking out a season-high nine. Leake is 8-2 career against the Cubs and 5-0 in eight starts against them at Great American Ball Park.
Chicago Baseball
Leake gave up Rizzo's two-run homer in the fourth and Chris Coghlan's solo shot in the seventh that tied it at 3. Coghlan is 9 for 11 career against Leake with three doubles and a pair of homers.
