Cubs win 9-7 to salvage DH split against Reds

Jackson hit his first career home run to help Raley earned his first major league win, leading the Cubs to a 9-7 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and a split of their day-night doubleheader on Saturday.

Starlin Castro had three hits and two RBIs as the Cubs rebounded after losing the first two in the four-game weekend series. David DeJesus added his fifth home run of the season in the ninth.

The Cubs are working on a new contract for Castro, but general manager Theo Epstein said nothing has been finalized yet. It's easy to see why the Cubs are interested in locking up the talented shortstop.

"Castro is just one of those players," manager Dale Sveum said. "He came up huge again. We found a slot for him at cleanup. It is what he does. He cuts and slashes."

Ryan Ludwick went deep twice and drove in three runs in the nightcap for the Reds, who had won seven of eight. Ludwick's fourth multihomer game of the season left him tied with Jay Bruce for the team lead with 25 homers on the year.

"It's tough to sweep a doubleheader," Ludwick said. "We had opportunities. They came out and scored a big run at the end. Our backs were against the wall, but we scratched and clawed and fought and gave ourselves a chance."

Raley (1-2) gave up four runs, three earned, and five hits in 5 1-3 innings. He also singled for his first major league hit.

"I'm really fired up right now," Raley said. "You have to execute your pitches here. Ludwick got me. I got the ball from my first hit and that's awesome too. I told the coaches I could hit a little bit. They didn't believe me."

The Reds won the opener 5-3 behind ace Johnny Cueto, who pitched eight crisp innings. Todd Frazier also had a go-ahead homer for the second straight game.

The Cubs jumped all over Todd Redmond in the nightcap. Redmond (0-1) gave up four runs and seven hits in 3 1-3 innings in his major league debut. He struck out two and walked five.

Redmond was the sixth pitcher to start for Cincinnati this season. The Reds used the same five starters for the first 120 games, a modern franchise record and a key reason for their surge to the top of the NL Central.

Jackson sparked the Cubs' 13-hit attack with a drive into visitors' bullpen down the right-field line on a 1-1 pitch in the second, making it 1-0.

"It is something I can cross off my list," Jackson said. "I keep crossing things off my list."