CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) — Alfredo Simon became the NL’s first 12-game winner and Billy Hamilton added to his sensational series with a tiebreaking triple Wednesday night, leading the Reds to a 4-1 victory over the trade-depleted Chicago Cubs.
The Reds won their fifth in a row — matching their season high — and moved a season-best seven games over .500. After winning the first four games of the series, they’ll try for their first five-game sweep since 1976 on Thursday.
Simon (12-3), left off the All-Star team, became the first Reds pitcher to win a dozen games before the break since Edinson Volquez also went 12-3 in the first half of 2008. The reliever-turner-starter gave up four hits in 6 2/3 innings, including Anthony Rizzo’s third homer in four games.
Cubs manager Rick Renteria was ejected in the fifth inning for arguing a foul ball call.
Third base umpire Andy Fletcher ruled that Devin Mesoraco’s grounder down the line was foul. Third baseman Luis Valbuena had fielded the ball and stepped on the base, thinking he had a force out. Renteria came out of the dugout and was quickly ejected while questioning the call.
The Cubs gave up three runs in the inning, falling behind 4-1. They came into the game with five straight losses, including a doubleheader sweep by the Reds on Tuesday.
It was Renteria’s fifth ejection this season.