Nico Hoerner and Willson Contreras rally the Cubs to an 8-5 victory over the Reds

CHICAGO — Leave it to rookie Nico Hoerner to pull the Chicago Cubs out of one of their darkest offensive stretches of their home season.

Hoerner rallied the Cubs from a three-run deficit, hitting a two-run double and then scoring the go-ahead run from second on a single to shallow right field to highlight a five-run fourth inning Thursday that vaulted them to an 8-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field.

The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 15 minutes because of rain, and the forecast looked just as ominous as heavy mist fell in the top of the third with the Cubs trailing 3-0 and rookie Adbert Alzolay laboring on the mound.

But thanks in part to Hoerner, who hit the only ball out of the infield, the Cubs tied a season high for most runs in an inning that last was accomplished in the sixth inning of a victory in Cleveland on Aug. 11.