A couple of key defensive errors by Jim Edmonds & Ronny Cedeno helped the Cincinnati Reds to rally in the 9th inning for a 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday afternoon from Great American Ball Park.

Jay Bruce was then hit by a pitch before Ryan Hanigan drew a walk to load the bases for Corey Patterson.

Patterson hit a sac fly to Micah Hoffpauir in right field, which scored Encarnacion from 3rd base & gave the Reds a 1-0 lead.

Aaron Harang then grounded out to Marshall which ended the inning.

The Cubs then tied it in the top of the 4th inning after Micah Hoffpauir & Derrek Lee hit back-to-back singles off Reds starter Aaron Harang.

Aramis Ramirez then singled to load the bases with nobody out for Geovany Soto.

Soto then grounded into a doubleplay, but scored Hoffpauir from 3rd base to tie the game 1-1.

With 2 outs & Lee on 3rd base, Mark DeRosa hit an infield groundout to end the inning.

Cincinnati then had a chance to re-take the lead in the bottom of the 5th inning after Corey Patterson reached 1st base safely on a bunt single against Marshall.

Aaron Harang then put down a sac bunt to advance Patterson to 2nd base with just 1 out  for Jolbert Cabrera.

Cabrera struck out swinging before Jeff Keppinger hit an outfield lineout to Jim Edmonds in centerfield to end the inning.

The Cubs then took their 1st lead of the game in the top of the 7th innig after Geovany Soto & Mark DeRosa were both hit by pitches from Harang.

2 batters later, Ronny Cedeno hit an RBI double to score Soto from 2nd base & give Chicago a 2-1 lead.

Pinch-hitter Mike Fontenot then hit a sac fly to right field, which scored DeRosa from 3rd base & gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead.

Alfonso Soriano then drew a 2-out walk which put runners at 1st & 3rd for Micah Hoffpauir.

Soriano then stole 2nd base during Hoffpauir’s at-bat, who drew a walk which loaded the bases for Derrek Lee.

Lee then hit into a fielder’s choice to end the inning.

Chicago then had a chance to extend their lead in the top of the 8th after Aramis Ramirez hit a lead-off double against Cincinnati reliever David Weathers.

3 batters later, Jim Edmonds was intentionally walked to put runners at 1st & 2nd with 2 outs for Ronny Cedeno, who hit an outfield flyout to end the inning.

The Cubs then again had a chance to score more runs in the top of the 9th inning after Alfonso Soriano drew a 1-out walk from Reds closer Francisco Cordero.

Soriano later stole 2nd base during Derrek Lee’s at-bat, who walked to put runners at 1st & 2nd with 2 outs for Aramis Ramirez, who hit an outfield flyout to end the scoring threat.

Cincinnati then put together their game-winning rally in the bottom of the 9th inning after Edwin Encarnacion hit a lead-off single & advanced to 2nd base on Jim Edmonds’ error in centerfield.

Jay Bruce then drew a walk which put runners at 1st & 2nd with nobody out for Ryan Hanigan, who grounded into a fielder’s choice but advanced Bruce to 2nd base on the play.

Pinch-hitter Javier Valentin then walked, which loaded the bases with just 1 out for Chris Dickerson.

Dickerson hit into what looked to be a potential double play, but the ball skipped off Ronny Cedeno’s mitt & into right field which allowed both Hanigan & Bruce to score, which tied the game 3-3.

Jolbert Cabrera then delivered the game-winning RBI single, which scored pinch-runner Wilkin Castillo from 3rd base & gave Cincinnati a come-from-behind 4-3 win.

Francisco Cordero (5-4) gets the win for the Reds after pitching a scoreless 9th inning despite walking 2 batters.

Kerry Wood takes both the loss (4-4) & a blown save (6th of season) after allowing 2 runs on 3 hits & walking two in a 9th inning where only 1 out was recorded.

The Cubs will be back in action on Tuesday evening from Busch Stadium, as they face the rival St. Louis Cardinals for the final time this season.

Cubs righthander Ryan Dempster (15-6, 2.69) will pitch Tuesday night’s opener & will be opposed by Cardinals righthander Kyle Lohse (13-6, 3.76.)

Dempster hasn’t lost a road start since June 27th against the White Sox & hasn’t lost a road start to an NL opponent since Houston on May 20th.

Dempster won his only previous start against St. Louis this season on August 10th after pitching 6 2/3 innings & allowed 2 runs on 6 hits.

The Cardinals have lost each of Lohse’s last 6 starts dating back to August 7th against Los Angeles.

Lohse is 2-4 in 10 post All-Star Break starts with a 4.45 ERA.

Signing off for now,