Zack Littell struck out eight in seven crisp innings in his Cincinnati debut, and the Reds beat the slumping Chicago Cubs 5-1 at Wrigley Field on Tuesday.
Littell (9-8) allowed three hits and walked two in his first start since he was acquired in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays last week.
Spencer Steer hit a tiebreaking three-run home run in Cincinnati’s four-run seventh inning. The Reds (60-54) won for the third time in four games.
Matt Shaw homered for the Cubs (65-48), who finished with four hits. They had just three hits in Monday’s 3-2 loss in the series opener.
The Cubs have dropped three of their last four games. They trail the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers by four games.
Steer singled home Miguel Andujar in the fifth inning, but Shaw responded with his seventh home run of the season in the bottom half of the inning.
The Reds grabbed control in the seventh against Andrew Kittredge (2-3). Austin Hays walked, Andujar singled and Steer hit a drive to left-center for his 13th home run of the season. Santiago Espinal added a sacrifice fly.
Photos: Chicago Cubs lose 5-1 to the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field
It was Kittredge’s third appearance since he was acquired in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles.
Andujar collected his first two hits with the Reds after coming over in a trade deadline deal with the Athletics. TJ Friedl also had two hits.
Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga struck out seven in 6 1/3 innings. He was charged with one run and three hits.
Key moment
The Cubs had a chance to grab an early lead, putting runners on first and second with none out in the first inning. But Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Willi Castro struck out swinging.
Key stat
The Reds went 3 for 5 with runners in scoring position. The Cubs went 0 for 6 in those situations.
Up next
Reds All-Star LHP Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.15 ERA) faces Cubs rookie RHP Cade Horton (5-2, 3.42 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday.
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