Reds Burn Cubs 11-3

May 15, 1998 / 11:30 PM EDT / CBS/AP

Hard-luck Pete Harnisch finally had some good fortune.

Harnisch, who would be among the NL leaders in victories if not for three blown saves by Cincinnati's bullpen, got an easy win Friday night when the Reds routed the Chicago Cubs 11-3.

Reggie Sanders drove in four runs with a three-run homer and a walk during a nine-run Reds' outburst in the second inning. Although he was staked to a big lead, Harnisch felt some pressure.

"It's kind of a lose-lose situation," he said. "If you win, it's no big deal. If you lose, you really screw up."

Harnisch (3-0) had no problems preserving the lead, giving up six hits and two runs in seven innings. He struck out five and issued an intentional walk.

"We score nine runs in the second inning, it's kind of my job to throw strikes," he said.

The Reds sent 14 batters to the plate in the second, with eight of the runs charged to Jeremi Gonzalez (3-4). Cincinnati hadn't scored nine runs in an inning since May 16, 1993, against Colorado.

"Starting pitching sets the tone for the whole game," said Cubs manager Jim Riggleman. "Our starting pitching has been sharp, but it wasn't tonight. Harnisch was sharp."

The Reds have won three straight to move over .500 for the first time since the fifth game of the season. The loss ended the Cubs' four-game winning streak.

Bret Boone and Willie Greene led off the Reds' second with consecutive singles, and scored on Reggie Sanders' second homer of the season. Two outs later, Cincinnati loaded the bases on a fielder's choice and consecutive infield singles by Barry Larkin and Dmitri Young.

Eddie Taubensee singled in two runs, and Gonzalez walked Boone to load the bases again.

Don Wengert took over for Gonzalez and walked Greene and Sanders, allowing two more runs to score. Wengert then gave up a two-run single to Eduardo Perez.

"I just got behind and didn't make quality pitches when I needed to," Wengert said.

Cincinnati added a run in the fifth on a triple by Larkin and an RBI single by Taubensee, and Greene led off the seventh with his seventh homer of the season.

Taubensee, the Reds' hottest hitter, was 3-for-5 and raised his batting average to .382.

"He's relaxed and he's having a lot of fun," said manager Jack McKeon. "Somewhere along the line, he's going to slow down. I hope not, but it's a long season."

The Cubs got a run in the sixth on a double by Mickey Morandini and an RBI single by Sammy Sosa. They added a run in the seventh on a triple by Jeff Blauser and a groundout by Tyler Houston.

Chicago scored off reliever Danny Graves in the eighth when Matt Mieske doubled in Jason Hardtke, who had reached on a fielder's choice.

Notes: The Cubs recalled infielder Jaon Hardtke from Triple-A Iowa prior to Friday night's game. Hardtke batted .298 with four home runs and 23 RBIs in 31 games with Iowa. The Cubs waived right-hander Amaury Telemaco, who was claimed by Arizona. ... Larkin got his 300th career steal in the first inning. ... Greene returned to the Reds' lineup at third base. He left Monday night's game with stiffness in his back, and had one pinch-appearance since then. ... Chicago's Brant Brown extended his hitting streak to a career-high 12 games with a first-inning single.