The Cubs’ September woes continued on Friday night, as the Cincinnati Reds scored the game’s first 9 runs & cruised to an easy 10-2 win over the Chicago Cubs from Great American Ball Park.

The Cubs’ losing streak is now at a season-high 6 games.

Cincinnati took the lead for good in the bottom of the 1st inning after Chris Dickerson hit a lead-off single against Chicago starter Ted Lilly.

3 batters later, Joey Votto hit a 2-run homer (18th of season) to give the Reds a 2-0 lead.

The Reds added on in the bottom of the 2nd inning for 3 more runs after Ryan Hanigan hit an infield single against Lilly.

Bronson Arroyo then laid down a sac bunt to advance Hanigan to 2nd base with just 1 out.

Chris Dickerson was then hit by a pitch, which put runners at 1st & 2nd for Jeff Keppinger.

Keppinger delivered with a RBI triple, which scored Hanigan from 2nd base & gave Cincinnati a 3-0 lead.

After Brandon Phillips was intentionally walked to load the bases, Joey Votto forced in Dickerson from 3rd base with a bases-loaded walk to give the Reds a 4-0 lead.

Edwin Encarnacion then hit a sac fly to Alfonso Soriano in left field, which scored Keppinger from 3rd base & gave Cincinnati a 5-0 lead.

Jay Bruce then hit an outfield flyout to end the inning.

Cincinnati then broke the game wide open in the bottom of the 4th inning after Jeff Keppinger hit a 1-out single against Cubs reliever Jon Lieber, who made his 1st apperance Friday since July 10th.

Brandon Phillips then doubled, which put runners at 2nd & 3rd with just 1 out for Joey Votto, who was intentionally walked to load the bases.

2 batters later, Jay Bruce hit a grand slam (16th of season) which gave the Reds a 9-0 lead.

Cincinnati’s final run came on a 7th inning 1-out double by Ryan Hanigan.

Both of the Cubs’ runs were scored by Koyie Hill, who hit a 7th inning RBI double & a 8th inning RBI single.

Bronson Arroyo (14-10) gets the win for the Reds after allowing just 1 run on 4 hits in 6 1/3 innings of work.

Ted Lilly (13-9) takes the loss for the Cubs after allowing 5 runs on 4 hits in just 2 innings of work.

This was the 2nd time in Lilly’s last 3 starts against the Reds that he suffered a short outing. On July 10th at Wrigley Field, Lilly lasted just 2 2/3 innings after giving up 4 runs on 6 hits during the Cubs’ 12-7 loss.

Chicago will try to snap their 6 game skid & keep their 4 game division lead over Milwaukee on Saturday evening at 6:10 PM cst, as righthander Jason Marquis (9-8, 4.46) will be opposed by Reds righthander Johnny Cueto (8-12, 4.65).

Marquis has pitched exceptionally well on the road this season, with a 5-3 record in 11 starts away from Wrigley with a 3.12 ERA.

Marquis has allowed just 2 runs over his last 12 1/3 innings pitched on the road, which both led to Cub wins.

The Reds have lost 7 of Cueto’s last 9 starts, dating back to July 9th against the Cubs when he gave up 5 runs on 8 hits in 6 2/3 innings.

Cueto will be seeking his 1st home win on Saturday since July 3rd against Washington & is coming off a solid month of August in which he went 1-2 in 5 starts with a 2.77 ERA.

Signing off for now,