Reds 7, Cubs 2: Billy Hamilton, Todd Frazier and Brandon Phillips all drove in two runs apiece as Cincinnati took two of three at home from Chicago.

Zack Cozart went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored three times for the Reds, who have won four of five since halting a seven-game losing streak and are 6 1/2 games behind San Francisco for the second wild card in the National League. Dylan Axelrod (1-0) yielded two hits and three walks while striking out eight in five scoreless frames in his second start with Cincinnati.

Jake Arrieta (7-5) had allowed three runs or fewer in 14 of his last 15 starts, but was tagged for six runs on six hits and four walks while matching a season low by working only four innings. Jorge Soler, who became the first Cub since Starlin Castro in 2010 to homer in his first career at-bat in Wednesday’s loss, singled in Castro to break up the shutout in the ninth inning.

Arrieta stranded a pair of runners in the opening frame, but gave up three runs in the second as Kristopher Negron drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Cozart’s single. Cozart also stole second before trotting home on a double by Hamilton, who scored moments later on Frazier’s line-drive single up the middle.

The Reds doubled their lead with two out in the fourth on Frazier’s second RBI single and Phillips' two-run double down the line in left. Hamilton, who went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, wrapped up his sterling performance with a run-scoring single in the sixth off reliever Wesley Wright.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Hamilton is batting .371 with eight extra-base hits, 12 RBIs, 13 runs and nine steals against the Cubs this season. … Chicago LF Chris Coghlan was ejected by home plate umpire Ben May in the top of the fifth for arguing balls and strikes. … The Reds recorded all six of their steals in the first four innings Thursday and improved to 37-14 against the Cubs over the last three seasons.