By John Fay
Cincinnati.com CHICAGO - Reds manager Dusty Baker wasn't counting homers. He was counting outs
"I was looking at the scoreboard after each inning," Baker said. " 'OK, we've got nine more outs, 12 more outs,' whichever it was."
The Reds got enough outs and enough runs to beat the Chicago Cubs 12-7 Thursday before a crowd of 41,459 at Wrigley Field to avoid getting swept.
Wrigley was the Unfriendly Confines for pitchers Thursday: warm and humid with a 12 mph wind blowing out to center.
"You knew it was going to be a high-scoring game," Baker said. "I've seen the ball travel on these kind of days big-time. Anything that goes up in the air, you're always nervous."
The Reds came back from down 1-0 and 3-1 and took the lead in the third inning on Brandon Phillips' two-run homer, which followed Ken Griffey Jr.'s RBI double.
"The home run by Brandon Phillips was huge for us," said David Ross, who hit two himself. "As a catcher, it's nice to see us keep answering back," Ross said. The Reds would hold the lead the rest of the way, thanks mostly to home runs.
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