Jackson drives in 5; Cubs beat Reds 10-3

Hammel struck out Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce to get out the inning.

Jackson added a bases-loaded two-run single in Chicago’s three-run eighth. Chicago will need the Reds to figure out how to score in bunches as Cincinnati heads to Pittsburgh for the final three games of the year.

Meanwhile, Jason Hammel(10-7) was doing his best Houdini impression, escaping jam after jam. Jason Bourgeois started the Reds first inning with a double and then moved to third with one out.

The Chicago Cubs are going for a sweep of the Reds in a day game at Cincinnati.

Pittsburgh’s next goal is to secure home-field advantage in the wild-card game for a third straight year as they open a three-game series with the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.

Most of Kyle Schwarber’s major league firsts are long past, tucked away for safe keeping, or displayed on a shelf somewhere.

It was Austin Jackson’s turn to cash in on Wednesday.

The Cubs are 11-6 against Cincinnati with two games remaining, their first season series victory against the Reds since 2009…

On the other hand, the Reds are closing in on their second-most losses in a season and finished 34-47 at home – tied with the Oakland A’s for the worst home record in baseball this season.

Josh Smith will be making his sixth career start and will be seeking the first victory of his ML career.

Chicago Cubs’ manager Joe Maddon’s brilliance was on display once again on Thursday.

“I told (Cubs president Theo Epstein) in a meeting we had when the whole (contract) thing got going that I’m not here to grind through 2015”, Lester said. “Maybe we surprised ourselves a little bit”.

The Cubs will play the Pirates in next week’s NL wild-card game, as St. Louis clinched the NL Central later Wednesday.

Rizzo was the last batter for Lamb (1-5), who gave up five earned runs and struck out six in 4 2/3 innings.

Because whatever you put on the glass, it has to be something you love. “We think the world of this kid”.

The last-place Reds matched their longest losing streak since dropping 12 straight in 1993. With Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake traded midseason, the 24-year-old DeSclafani led the staff in starts (31), wins and innings (184 2-3) in his first full campaign.

Carlos Beltran, Greg Bird and Rob Refsnyder all clubbed home runs as the Yankees progressed to the post-season for the first time since 2012. In the fifth, Jackson followed Lester’s leadoff single with an RBI double. The Reds managed only three singles during a 5-1 loss to Washington on Monday.

John Danks (7-15) was tagged for six runs and 11 hits – matching a season high – in five innings.