Power Surge for Cubs Sends Reds to a Loss

Derrek Lee hit two of Chicago’s five homers off left-hander Brandon Claussen, bringing thousands of blue-clad fans to their feet for “MVP!” chants, and the resurgent Cubs rolled to a 9-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night at Cincinnati.

Lee became the first major leaguer to reach 30 homers this season, hitting solo shots off Claussen (4-7) in his first two at-bats. Todd Walker also homered twice, extending his hitting streak to 11 games.

Aramis Ramirez had a solo shot in the Cubs’ biggest homer barrage of the season. The five homers off Claussen equaled the most ever off a Red pitcher.

The outburst was hardly a surprise. The series matches the NL’s top two power-hitting clubs -- Cincinnati has 121 homers, the Cubs 120 -- in the ballpark that has yielded more homers than any other in the majors.

The Cubs have won seven of eight, moving back above .500 (47-45) with a solid stretch by their starting rotation. In the last eight games, Cub starters have given up only 12 earned runs.

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Atlanta 6, San Francisco 1 -- Andruw Jones hit two two-run homers and Chipper Jones homered in his first at-bat in six weeks to lead the Braves at San Francisco.

Andruw Jones connected in the first and third innings off Kevin Correia (1-1) for the 25th multihomer game of his career. Chipper Jones was activated from the disabled list before the game after sitting out the previous 37 games because of a partially torn ligament in his left foot.

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Houston 11, Pittsburgh 1 -- Humberto Quintero’s three-run double in the fourth inning ended the Astros’ season-long scoreless streak in Pittsburgh.

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Colorado 5, Washington 4 -- National third baseman Vinny Castilla’s second error of the game allowed the Rockies to score the tiebreaking run in the ninth inning at Washington.

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St. Louis 11, Milwaukee 4 -- Albert Pujols homered, singled, doubled and scored four times at St. Louis to help Matt Morris win his 11th game for the Cardinals.

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Arizona 8, Florida 7 -- Quinton McCracken’s triple off Marlin closer Todd Jones with one out in the bottom of the 11th inning at Phoenix scored Kelly Stinnett with the winning run.