Anthony Rizzo belted a two-run homer, his first of the season, in the first inning to back Travis Wood and lead the Cubs to a 5-0 victory Wednesday over the Reds and take the series.
Wood gave up three hits over seven-plus innings, retiring the first 10 batters faced before he walked Joey Votto with one out in the fourth. The Cubs now have won two of their first three series; they did not win their first series last year until May 2-4.
“It was a tough combination — we were down early and Woody was on,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “That was as well as I’ve seen him, those first seven innings, since 2010, when he had a real nice year for us in Cincinnati.”
Rizzo, who led Chicago last season with 32 home runs, connected off former Cubs pitcher Jason Marquis, who served up five runs (four earned) over four innings. With the loss, the Reds have dropped back-to-back series.
“Any time we can give our guys a lead in the first and let them go out and pound the strike zone, it’s good,” Rizzo said.
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