DeSclafani (3-1) allowed two runs on three hits, with four walks and three strikeouts, as the Reds won their sixth straight game, matching their season high. Cincinnati will try to complete a sweep of the four-game series with the Cubs on Sunday.

DeSclafani's home run, the first of his career, with two outs in the bottom of the third inning off Cubs reliever Brian Duensing gave the Reds an 8-1 lead. DeSclafani entered the game with a .138 career average and six RBIs in 125 plate appearances.

Tucker Barnhart and Joey Votto also homered for the Reds, opening and closing the scoring. Barnhart hit a two-run shot, his fifth of the season, in the first inning and Votto hit a three-run homer, his eighth, in the eighth off Cubs backup catcher Chris Gimenez.

Cubs starter Luke Farrell (2-3) was charged with three runs on two hits in 2 2/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four. He was lifted after issuing a two-out walk to Votto in the third.

Scooter Gennett greeted Duensing with a double to right field to score Votto. Eugenio Suarez then lined a single to left, scoring Gennett. After a walk to Jesse Winker, Adam Duvall reached on an infield single to load the bases. DeSclafani then hit a 3-2 pitch over the left-field wall, the first slam by a Reds pitcher since Bob Purkey on Aug. 1, 1959.

The Cubs' Willson Contreras homered in the second inning on a play that was upheld by a video review to cut the Reds' lead to 2-1. It was Contreras' fifth homer of the season.

Chicago's Ben Zobrist added a solo shot in the sixth, his fifth, to make it 8-2.

The Cubs' Tommy La Stella, who got the start at third base to give Kris Bryant a rest, made a diving catch into the stands on a foul ball hit by Votto in the first inning.

Cubs bench coach Brandon Hyde was ejected in the top of the fourth inning by home plate umpire Greg Gibson.

--Field Level Media