Austin Jackson hit a three-run homer, Anthony Rizzo added a run-scoring double, and the Chicago Cubs kept alive their slim hopes for home-field advantage in the National League wild-card playoff game with a 5-3 victory over the Reds on Thursday in Cincinnati.
Chris Denorfia also drove in a run, and the Cubs overcame two errors to move two games behind idle Pittsburgh in the race to host the playoff game on Wednesday. Both teams have three to play — Chicago in Milwaukee and the Pirates against the Reds in Pittsburgh.
Joey Votto hit a run-scoring single in the seventh inning, extending his streak of consecutive games in which he’s reached base at least once to 47, the longest since Kevin Millar’s 52-game stretch in 2007.