Major League Baseball

Cubs hit 3 HRs, break loose to beat Reds 8-4

Published Apr. 19, 2014 5:55 p.m. ET

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CHICAGO (AP) Darwin Barney and Welington Castillo hit two-run homers and Mike Olt added a solo shot as the Chicago Cubs broke out of a weeklong offensive funk and beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 Saturday.

Since scoring four times last Sunday in St. Louis, the Cubs had managed just one run before beating the Reds. Cincinnati had won 16 of the last 17 at Wrigley Field.

Emilio Bonifacio had three hits and scored a pair of runs for the Cubs. Junior Lake, Starlin Castro and Justin Ruggiano each drove in a run.

Edwin Jackson (1-1) allowed two runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings.

Tony Cingrani (1-2) gave up three runs in five innings.

Jay Bruce went 3 for 3 with a walk for the Reds.

Bonifacio led off the bottom of the first with a single, went to second on a walk to Lake and came home on a single by Ruggiano.

Olt stretched the lead to 2-0 when he led off the second with his third homer of the season.

Bonifacio hit a leadoff single in the third, stole second and eventually scored on a grounder by Castro.

Jackson cruised along until the sixth, when Devin Mesoraco doubled home Bruce. Zack Cozart made it 3-2 with an RBI grounder.

Barney homered in the bottom of the sixth, the first shot of the season for the light-hitting second baseman. Lake added an RBI single later in the inning.

An error by Olt at first base on a routine grounder helped the Reds score twice in the seventh. Castillo homered in the bottom half.

NOTES: Reds 2B Brandon Phillips was back in the lineup after leaving Friday's game in the third inning because of back spasms. ''As far as I know he didn't have any lower back issues until he took that swing off (Jeff) Samardzija, so my feeling is once he gets past that he won't have to do anything to maintain it,'' manager Bryan Price said. ... Cubs RHP Jake Arrieta (shoulder soreness) is hoping that Monday's rehab start in Class A Daytona will be last before he rejoins the rotation. He's had three previous rehab starts. The (velocity) was good in the last start, low to mid-90s. I'm right where I need to be.'' ... Reds OF Ryan Ludwick sat out Saturday after fouling a ball off his left foot during Friday's game and sustaining a bruised toe. X-rays were negative, but Price is not certain when Ludwick will be able to play. ... Reds RHP Homer Bailey (0-1) faces RHP Carlos Villanueva (1-3) in the series finale.