Another Glimpse Of What Could Have Been As Cubs Beat Reds

The Chicago Cubs won their fourth consecutive game Friday, beating Cincinnati 6-4 in the opener of a three-game weekend set at Wrigley Field. Starter Rich Harden lasted just four innings, but got help from the Cubs bats, as Geovany Soto homered and Aramis Ramirez went three-for-three. Despite another rough outing in which he surrendered three runs in one inning of work, Cubs reliever Jeff Stevens earned his first career victory. Stevens, who turned 26 last Saturday, now has a 9.72 ERA in seven appearances with Chicago this season. Stevens will try to work out the kinks this winter, as he figures to step into an expanded role next season for the Cubs. The Cubs jumped out to their first lead in the second inning, when the catcher Soto hit a sacrifice fly to score Ramirez. The Reds answered in the top of third on a Joey Votto single, but the Cubs took the lead right back when Ramirez singled through the left side to score two in the bottom of the inning. Soto then added ...