CINCINNATI (AP) — Kris Bryant became the first major leaguer to hit three homers and two doubles in a game, and Jake Arrieta added a solo shot in the ballpark where he threw a no-hitter in April, leading the Chicago Cubs to an 11-8 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night.
The Cubs pulled out of their 1-6 slide behind a tandem that’s had some historic moments in Cincinnati.
Arrieta (12-2) threw his second career no-hitter on April 21 during a 16-0 win over the Reds. Bryant led the way with a pair of homers in that game, including a grand slam that gave him a career-high six RBIs.
Arrieta struggled in his return to Cincinnati, giving up a season-high five runs in five innings, but Bryant drove in six runs again to help the right-hander pull through. Bryant’s 16 total bases were a Cubs record, and his five hits marked a career high.
Bryant doubled home a run in the first, hit a solo homer in the third and added a three-run shot deep into the upper deck in left field in the fourth off Dan Straily (4-5). His solo shot in the eighth came off Ross Ohlendorf, who also gave up a homer to Anthony Rizzo.
Arrieta hit an opposite-field drive — his fourth career home run — in the fifth inning off Michael Lorenzen for an 8-3 lead.
The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner became the league’s first 12-game winner despite his worst pitching performance of the season. Arrieta walked a season-high five batters in five innings, and four of them scored. The five runs allowed were his most since he gave up six during a 7-2 loss at Great American Ball Park on Aug. 28, 2014.
Adam Duvall had a two-run double in the first inning, Jay Bruce singled home a run, and Joey Votto hit a two-run homer off Arrieta.
The Cubs have the best record in the majors at 49-26 despite their slump last week, set up by a lack of clutch hitting and poor relief pitching. The bullpen gave up three runs and four hits Monday, including Votto’s second homer in the ninth inning.
The Cubs improved to 7-1 against the Reds this season and have won 10 of their last 11 vs. their NL Central rivals.
Cubs outfielder Jorge Soler took batting practice as part of a pregame workout. He went on the 15-day disabled list June 7 with a strained left hamstring.
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips was out of the lineup, getting a day off. Pitcher Caleb Cotham threw 20 pitches to Reds hitters before the game without any problems. He expects to start a rehab assignment soon. Cotham has been on the DL since May 31 with a sore shoulder. Homer Bailey pitched one inning for Triple-A Louisville in his first rehab start, giving up three hits — including two homers — while throwing 25 pitches.
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