Cubs Lose Another Tough One

Javier Valentin doubled in the go-ahead run with two out in the 12th inning and the Cincinnati Reds played spoiler again, sending the Chicago Cubs to a crushing 2-1 defeat Thursday.

Chicago lost for the fifth time in six games, including consecutive 12-inning decisions to the Reds, and fell one game behind idle Houston for the NL wild card. The Cubs also wasted a strong outing by Mark Prior, who struck out 16 in nine innings.

Adam Dunn, who earlier broke Bobby Bonds’ major league record for strikeouts in a single season when he fanned in his first two at-bats, singled in the 12th off Mike Remlinger (1-2). Dunn stole second and moved to third on a grounder before Valentin doubled to right off Kyle Farnsworth. Dunn has 190 strikeouts, one more than Bonds had in 1970.

Chicago loaded the bases in the 11th, but Juan Padilla (1-0) struck out Michael Barrett.