Reds 2, Diamondbacks 1
CINCINNATI -- Right-hander Mat Latos allowed just one run through eight innings and Shin-Soo Choo scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch in the eighth, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 2-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the finale of a four-game series on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati (73-55) took three of four in the series to increase its lead over Arizona to seven games for the National League's second wild card spot.
With closer Aroldis Chapman unavailable after pitching two innings on Wednesday night, right-hander Sam LeCure pitched the ninth inning. LeCure allowed two hits with one strikeout in earning his first career save.
Latos (13-4) struck out six and did not walk a batter over his 102 pitches.
Eury De La Rosa (0-1) took the loss for Arizona.
Diamondbacks starter Trevor Cahill, who was 1-6 with a 7.83 ERA in his previous nine starts, cruised through most of Thursday's outing.
Cahill uncorked three wild pitches in the third, leading to the game's first run. Choo singled and later scored from third on Brandon Phillips' groundout to put the Reds ahead 1-0.
Latos retired the first nine batters before Adam Eaton singled leading off the fourth. Eaton later scored from third on Aaron Hill's infield single to tie the score 1-1.
After needing 23 pitches to get through the fourth, Latos bounced back with a 6-pitch fifth.
With a depleted bullpen coming out of Wednesday's 10-7 loss, the D-backs desperately needed innings from Cahill who responded with a workmanlike effort.
Cahill, facing the Reds for the first time in his career, threw just 50 of his 97 pitches for strikes and walked four with three wild pitches. But Cincinnati managed only four hits and one run off him.
Choo singled off left-hander Eury De La Rosa leading off the eighth. Choo advanced to third on a throwing error by De La Rosa and a sacrifice bunt by Todd Frazier.
On a 3-2 pitch to Joey Votto, De La Rosa's throw skipped past catcher Wil Nieves for a wild pitch, Choo scored to put Cincinnati ahead 2-1.
NOTES: Cahill issued a season-high four walks, done four times previously. .. LeCure's only professional save came in 2011 at Triple-A Louisville. .. Reds LHP Tony Cingrani threw a bullpen session Thursday but his status for his next start remained uncertain. Cingrani left Tuesday's outing with a lower back strain. .. On Thursday, Reds RHP Jonathan Broxton was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right flexor mass strain which will require surgery. "I had a bad feeling when I went to the mound last night," said manager Dusty Baker. "We won't know (how long) until we get in there to see what's wrong". In corresponding moves, RHP Johnny Cueto was transferred to the 60-day DL to make room for RHP Nick Christiani whose contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville. .. D-backs C Miguel Montero went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk on Wednesday in a rehab appearance for the Arizona League affiliate. Montero is expected to catch nine innings by Saturday then be reevaluated before rejoining the big-league club.
