Even though complete games are rare these days, Cole Hamels still likes to finish what he starts.

The 13-year veteran went the distance Thursday night to continue his dramatic turnaround with the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs, who got home runs from Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez in a 7-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

"That's ultimately the goal," Hamels said. "It's just tough to do so now. The hitters are better, a lot more research is going into it. As a starter, you just have to grind, you have to pitch."

Hamels (4-0) allowed eight hits, struck out seven and walked two in his 17th career complete game and the first by a Cubs pitcher this season. His ERA in five starts with Chicago is 0.79.

Before being traded to the Cubs last month, the 34-year-old lefty was 5-9 with a 4.72 ERA in 20 starts for the Texas Rangers, including 1-3 with an 11.12 ERA in his last four.

Hamels, though, never doubted he could turn things around.

"I got into a rut in Texas and really was trying to get out of it," he said. "Sometimes when you strive to do something, you can make it worse. You finally have to give in. You have to get back to the basics."

Hamels had allowed just two earned runs in his first four starts with Chicago, but the Reds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning as Phillip Ervin beat out an infield single with two outs, scoring Billy Hamilton from third base.

The Cubs quickly answered. After Baez reached on an error with one out, Rizzo hit the first pitch he saw from starter Anthony DeSclafani (6-4) into the bleachers in right for a 2-1 Chicago lead. Baez's homer in the third made it 3-1.

The Cubs added another in the fifth and then broke it open with three runs in the seventh.

Cincinnati loaded the bases with one out in the ninth, but Hamels got Tucker Barnhart to ground into a game-ending double play on his 114th pitch.

"We've all seen Cole through the years and he's pitched a lot of good ballgames," Reds manager Jim Riggleman said. "But that one was right there at the top of the list. He was really good with all his pitches."

CRUSHED

Hamels overshadowed Baez's mammoth 481-foot solo shot that cleared the bleachers just left of straightaway center and landed on Waveland Avenue.

"That was one of my dreams, to hit a ball like that," Baez said.

It was the longest homer at Wrigley Field this season and sparked some ribbing from his teammates.

"When I got back to the dugout, they asked if that's all I had," Baez said. "Yeah."

ROSTER MOVES

The Cubs placed RHP Tyler Chatwood on the 10-day DL with left hip inflammation. The move is retroactive to Tuesday. RHP Dillon Maples was recalled from Triple-A Iowa.

Chatwood, 28, has struggled with his control after signing with the Cubs as a free agent in the offseason. He is 4-6 with a 5.22 ERA in 23 games (20 starts) with 93 walks in 101 2/3 innings.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: RF Scott Schebler (sprained right shoulder) continued his rehab assignment with Double-A Pensacola. Riggleman said Schebler will travel to Chicago on Friday and be activated on Saturday.

Cubs: RHP Yu Darvish (stress reaction right elbow) is out for the season but said he is relieved doctors finally discovered the source of his elbow pain. "At first, I was told it was a simple tightness, but I always knew there was something else other than the tightness," he said through a translator. .. 3B Kris Bryant (left shoulder inflammation) is expected to increase the intensity of his swings during a batting practice session Friday.

UP NEXT

The Cubs will recall RHP Alec Mills from Triple-A Iowa to start the second game of the series Friday. Mills has pitched two scoreless innings of relief for Chicago this season. The 26-year-old is 5-12 with a 4.84 ERA in 23 starts at Iowa. RHP Matt Harvey (6-7, 4.91 ERA) goes for the Reds after taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning during his last start.