Reds 9, Cubs 2

The Reds beat the Cubs 9-2 this afternoon.

The Reds got something in the fourth inning that's been all too rare for them this season -- a three-run double. I can't remember another one by a Red this year. Certainly not on this road trip. Adam Dunn walked. Jeff Keppinger followed with his second hit. Edwin Encarnacion walked. Joey Votto then smoked one into the right-center gap, clearing the bases.

Votto wrapped up the Star of the Game race with a two-run homer in the sixth. He swings nice and easy but the ball jumps off his bat.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit home run No. 596 -- a three-run shot in the seventh -- to make it 8-2.

Edinson Volquez went five innings, allowing one run on four hits. He walked four and struck out seven. That pushed his pitch count to 112 in the innings. He's 2-0 with a 1.12 ERA.

He had his good stuff. His first pitch was 96. 16 pitches, 12 strikes in the first. He got Derrek Lee with a 78 mph change-up on a full count.

He struggled a bit with control after that. He walked pitcher Ted Lilly with the bases loaded in the second.

His pitch count reached 94 after 4. But he worked a 1-2-3 fifth, striking out Aramis Ramirez with a 95 mph fastball on the last pitch.