CHICAGO -- J.J. Hoover put together his own birthday party at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night. He grabbed another scoreless outing for a present, and the Cincinnati Reds got a big win. Hoover provided terrific relief work on his 26th birthday and Shin-Soo Choo hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the 11th inning, leading Cincinnati to a 6-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs. "The bullpen did a great job again," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "Hoover did an outstanding job, got a much-needed win considering how he started the season. You know, we just played good baseball." With no outs and the bases loaded, Choo jumped on the first pitch he got from Eduardo Sanchez (0-1) and lined it into the gap in right-centre. Ryan Ludwick and Devin Mesoraco came around to score. Sanchez walked the first two batters of the inning and Cesar Izturis reached on an error by third baseman Donnie Murphy to set up Choos clutch hit. "I tell myself (be) aggressive (for) last at-bat, so I just swing at the first pitch," Choo said. Nate Schierholtz, Dioner Navarro and Murphy homered for Chicago, which was shut out in each of its previous three home games. Schierholtzs two-run drive in the second snapped a franchise-record home scoreless stretch at 33 innings. "Obviously we didnt play really good baseball tonight again," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. Hoover (3-5) allowed one hit in a career-high 2 1-3 innings, running his scoreless streak to 21 appearances and 24 2-3 innings. The surge, which began with one inning in Chicago on June 13, has lowered his ERA from 5.40 to 2.81. "It was just a small mechanical adjustment that I made mid-year, and its helped me out," he said. Aroldis Chapman finished for his 29th save in 33 chances, closing out Cincinnatis third consecutive win and sixth in seven games. The Reds also improved to 14-1 in their last 15 games at Chicagos cozy neighbourhood ballpark. David DeJesus had a leadoff single in the 10th for the Cubs, but Junior Lake popped up a sacrifice attempt and Hoover turned Anthony Rizzos comebacker into an inning-ending double play. Brandon Phillips had three hits and stole two bases, helping Cincinnati build a 4-2 lead. But Navarro led off the fourth with a drive just past the foul pole in right for his career-high 10th homer, and Murphy tied it with another leadoff shot in the seventh. The three homers allowed matched a career high for Homer Bailey, who gave up six hits and walked three in 6 1-3 innings. He had won each of his previous two starts. "My command was just terrible tonight," he said. "Just one of those nights, I just didnt have good stuff at all. Never really felt like I was in a groove." Jeff Samardzija yielded six hits and walked four in six innings, extending his winless stretch to five games. The right-hander was coming off a disastrous outing at Philadelphia, when he gave up nine runs and 11 hits in just 3 1-3 innings in a 12-1 loss. "I felt good out there. If I had to go back to anything, it was the first-pitch strike," Samardzija said. "I felt like I was behind the count a lot tonight. Even when they are taking a pitch. Thats a big pitch, the first of an at-bat. You want to jump ahead in the count and be aggressive." The unseasonably cool night began with the Cubs holding a pregame ceremony to honour Hall of Famer Ernie Banks, who will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom in a November ceremony at the White House. Its Americas highest civilian honour for contributions to society. Fellow Hall of Famer Billy Williams paid tribute to his longtime friend with team chairman Tom Ricketts standing nearby, and the 82-year-old Banks waved to the crowd as it saluted "Mr. Cub" with a long ovation. "Its amazing," Banks said. "It means everything to me. Life if is just wonderful. When you do things to help people and share things then it comes back to you. I just worked hard and to try to do my best, loved the players, love Wrigley Field, love all the players." Banks joins an impressive list of baseball players to receive the honour, including Joe DiMaggio, Jackie Robinson, Ted Williams, Hank Aaron, Roberto Clemente, Frank Robinson, Buck ONeil and Stan Musial. NOTES: It was Ludwicks second appearance since he tore cartilage in his right shoulder while sliding headfirst into third base on opening day. ... It looks as if Jorge Soler, one of Chicagos top prospects, could be done for the season. The Cuban outfielder is sidelined with a stress fracture in his left leg. "Fall leagues still very much a possibility," president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. "Minor league season is looking like it might not happen at this point." The 21-year-old Soler signed a nine-year, $30 million contract with the Cubs last year. ... RHP Jake Arrieta, who was acquired in a July trade with Baltimore, could be back up with the Cubs soon. "Yeah, were getting close to that point," Epstein said. Arrieta is 2-2 with a 3.56 ERA in seven starts with Triple-A Iowa. ... Cubs LHP Chris Rusin (2-1, 3.08 ERA) and Reds RHP Bronson Arroyo (10-9, 3.51 ERA) are scheduled to pitch on Wednesday. Stitched Flames Jerseys . PAUL, Minn. Flames Jerseys China . -- On the field, it was business as usual for Jameis Winston and No. https://www.cheapflames.com/ . Mitch Holmberg added a goal and three assists. Connor Chartier also scored for the Chiefs (3-0-0). Luke Harrison spoiled Garrett Hughsons shutout bid with a power-play goal at 13:17 of the third period. The Spokane goaltender finished with 28 saves, including a Brandon Fushimi penalty shot in the second period that would have tied the game 1-1. Calgary Flames Shirts . -- The proud fathers huddled near the Dallas Stars dressing room, smiling, laughing and telling stories while wearing replica green sweaters of their sons team. Calgary Flames Gear . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. PHILADELPHIA -- Cesar Hernandez homered, doubled and singled, and Jeremy Hellickson pitched seven strong innings in the Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night.Maikel Franco had two hits, including a double and the winning RBI, and Aaron Altherr homered for the Phillies. They have hit home runs in 14 straight games.Jeremy Hazelbaker homered and Jhonny Peralta had three hits for St. Louis, which had won five in a row. The Cardinals are 1 1/2 games head of Miami for the second wild-card spot in the National League.St. Louis fell short of setting a major league record of 10 straight games with multiple home runs. The Cardinals tied the mark with a pair of homers Friday night.Hellickson (10-7) skipped his last start because of back tightness. The right-hander looked healthy and sharp, allowing two runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. He pumped his fist into his glove after striking out pinch-hitter Greg Garcia to finish the seventh.Franco put the Phillies ahead for good with a two-out single to left in the fifth that scored Hernandez from third.Jeanmar Gomez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 33rd save in 37 opportunities.The Phillies jumped on rookie Luke Weaver (0-1) with a pair of runs in the first.Hernandez led off by driving an 0-1 pitch into the seats in right fiield for his fourth homer of the season.dddddddddddd Cameron Rupp put Philadelphia in front 2-0 with a broken-bat RBI single to left.The Cardinals tied it in the third. Weaver singled to center for his first career hit and scored on Hazelbakers two-run homer to left.After the Phillies took the lead in the fifth, Altherr made it a 4-2 game by drilling an 0-1 pitch from Jonathan Broxton over the wall in left.Weaver, a 22-year-old making his second career start, went five innings and allowed three runs on nine hits with six strikeouts and no walks.The Phillies won for just the third time in their last 12 games against St. Louis.A young fan sitting about 20 rows behind the Cardinals dugout was struck by a foul ball off the bat of Freddy Galvis in the eighth inning. After being treated at the seat for several minutes, the fan was carried out to the concourse by an adult into the waiting arms of medical personnel.TRAINERS ROOMPhillies: Hernandez was back in the starting lineup after a two-game absence due to a sore right foot. He did pinch-hit in Friday nights game.UP NEXTThe teams conclude their three-game series Sunday when Cardinals RHP Mike Leake (8-9, 4.78) faces RHP Vince Velasquez (8-5, 4.14). ' ' '