CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Alex Bregman homered and drove in four runs, and the Chicago Cubs used a four-run seventh inning to break a tie and beat the Cincinnati Reds 8-4 on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.

The Cubs improved to 54-42, taking two of three in the series after a 5-3 win Saturday and a 4-0 loss Friday. The Reds fell to 43-52.

Chicago struck first in the top of the first inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a flyout by Seiya Suzuki. Bregman then doubled to center, scoring Crow-Armstrong. After Carson Kelly struck out, Michael Busch doubled to right, plating Bregman for a 2-0 lead.

Cubs starter Matthew Boyd worked through the first two innings without allowing a run, relying on a defense that turned a forceout in the first to escape a two-on, one-out jam. The Reds broke through in the third. Ke’Bryan Hayes led off with a single, and after Elly De La Cruz reached on a forceout, Sal Stewart doubled to put runners at second and third. Spencer Steer grounded out to shortstop, scoring De La Cruz. JJ Bleday then singled to left, driving in Stewart and moving to second on the throw. Eugenio Suárez followed by homering to left, capping a four-run inning that gave Cincinnati a 4-2 lead.

Boyd settled after the third, but the Cubs answered in the fourth. Carson Kelly walked, and Busch doubled to put runners at second and third. After Nico Hoerner grounded out, Ian Happ walked to load the bases. Dansby Swanson struck out, but Kevin Alcántara singled to center, clearing the bases and tying the game 4-4. A challenge by the Reds overturned a call at first, ending the inning.

The game remained tied through the fifth and sixth. Cubs starter Boyd allowed two more hits but struck out three in 6 1/3 innings. The decisive moment came in the seventh. Swanson led off with a double to left. Pinch hitter Pedro Ramírez struck out, but Crow-Armstrong singled to right, with the ball deflected by first baseman Stewart, allowing Swanson to score and giving the Cubs a 5-4 lead. Suzuki followed with a single to put runners at first and second. Bregman then launched a three-run homer to left center, extending the lead to 8-4.

Bregman finished 3-for-5 with a double and his ninth homer of the season, driving in four runs. The performance was particularly strong given his recent slump: he went 1-for-4 with a homer and two RBIs on Saturday, but had been 0-for-4 on Friday and 0-for-3 with no RBIs in the two losses at Baltimore earlier in the week.

Boyd earned the win, his fifth of the season against one loss. He allowed six hits and four earned runs while striking out three. Jacob Webb recorded the final two outs for his fifth save. Chase Petty took the loss, allowing two hits and one earned run in two innings of relief.

For the Reds, Suárez homered and drove in two. Bleday had two hits and an RBI, and Stewart doubled. Andrew Abbott started and surrendered four runs on four hits over four innings, striking out three.

The Cubs bullpen held Cincinnati scoreless over the final three innings. Gavin Hollowell pitched 1 2/3 innings, yielding one hit and striking out three. Caleb Thielbar faced three batters and allowed two hits but did not give up a run. Webb recorded a scoreless ninth despite allowing two singles, getting a forceout and a flyout to end the game.

The Reds had nine hits, matching the Cubs’ total. Both teams stranded runners in scoring position in the later innings.

The game took 2 hours, 52 minutes. Attendance was 29,200.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Chicago Cubs 6, Cincinnati Reds 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Cubs a 56.20 percent probability of winning. Chicago had been installed as the pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total score of 12 went under the over-under line of 9.5. The Cubs next host Minnesota on Friday, while the Reds travel to Colorado.