Arismendy Alcantara drove a one-out single to center through a drawn-in infield off right-hander Burke Badenhop in the bottom of the 10th inning Monday night to lift the Cubs to a 7-6 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
The Cubs second dramatic, final-inning victory in as many days, put them in sole possession of first place in the National League Central for the first time since 2009.
Jorge Soler homered twice, including a two-run shot to center in the eighth inning to tie the game. He also hit a two-run homer to left in the first and singled during the 10th –inning rally.
Chris Coghlan, who homered in the sixth, walked to load the bases and force a pitching change.
With the infield drawn in, Starlin Castro hit a bouncer to short, where Zack Cozart threw to the plate for the force, leaving the bases loaded with one out for Alcantara.
Jon Lester, the Cubs’ $155 million free agent ace, struggled for the second time in as many starts, allowing three in the first and three in the sixth.
