nt the duration of the game fighting off the Broncos relentless defence.Aqib Talib, the corn

CHICAGO -- The Cincinnati Reds arent hitting much and their bullpen is tired. Mat Latos made sure they wouldnt need much of a contribution from either area to beat the slumping Chicago Cubs. Latos pitched eight scoreless innings, and Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning to lead the Reds to a 2-0 win over All-Star Travis Wood and the Cubs on Monday night. Latos, 4-0 with a 1.32 ERA since the All-Star break, allowed six hits and struck out nine for the Reds, who gained a half-game on idle Pittsburgh and St. Louis in the NL Central. Latos (12-3) gave the Reds bullpen a much needed rest after Cincinnati used six relievers for a combined six innings of work Sunday in a 3-2, 13-inning win over San Diego. He also helped pick up an offence that has scored just six runs in three games. "I had real good stuff," Latos said. "I was able to rely on the fastball and the slider all game. I threw one other pitch beside the fastball and the slider." Cincinnati left fielder Ryan Ludwick returned from the disabled list and went 0 for 3. He had been out since April 1 when he tore cartilage in his right shoulder while sliding headfirst into third base against the Los Angeles Angels. Though Ludwick didnt produce much, Latos didnt need anything else. When Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth inning for his 28th save in 32 tries, Cincinnati had its 10th win in 12 games over the Cubs this season. The Reds are 13-1 in their last 14 games at Wrigley Field. They also continued the Cubs home scoring woes. Chicago has gone 32 2-3 innings without scoring a run at Wrigley Field, and was shut out there for the third straight game. That hadnt happened since Aug. 20-21, 1924. "Its funny. Were scoring in bigger parks and stuff on the road and we cant seem to muster up anything at home," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "We have no slugging percentage at home right now." Cincinnati didnt have much of a slugging percentage, either, against former Reds pitcher Travis Wood. Wood (7-9) posted his 20th quality start but took the loss. He went eight innings and allowed Phillips homer among four hits. Wood struck out four and walked only one, but the Cubs lost for the 11th time in 15 games. "That was big, Brandons home run, because Woody was dealing on the other side, too," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "That guy has given us kind of the blues." Latos and Chapman did the same to the Cubs, who didnt get their first hit until Donnie Murphy singled with two outs in the fifth. Darwin Barney followed with a single that moved Murphy to third. Latos ended the threat by getting Wood to fly out to left. Chicago also made a costly mistake on the bases in the sixth. Junior Lake singled with one out, and when Anthony Rizzo followed with a hit to centre, Lake was thrown out at third by centre fielder Shin-Soo Choo. "At any given time, it doesnt matter whos in an offence," Latos said. "It could have just as easily blew up real quick. Theyve got young talent and a lot of guys that swing the bat. A lot of dangerous bats." Wood, facing the team that traded him before the 2012 season, kept the Reds in check, too. He was helped by double plays in the second and fourth innings, and was aided in the third when David DeJesus threw out Devin Mesoraco at second as he tried to stretch a single into a double. But Wood made one too many mistakes to beat Latos, giving the Reds their fifth win in six games. "From pitch one (Latos) was hitting every spot and making the pitches, so I felt like, OK, you have to step it up and make sure we cant fall behind here," Wood said. "Hats off to him, he was outstanding tonight. He outpitched me." NOTES: Cincinnati optioned OF Derrick Robinson to Triple-A Louisville to make room for Ludwick. . Mesoraco went 1 for 3 after playing all 13 innings on Sunday. When asked about playing Mesoraco on Monday, Baker cited his average against left-handers (.339), his familiarity with Latos, and his age (25). ... The Cubs promoted Kris Bryant, the No. 2 pick in this years draft, from short-season Boise to Class-A Advanced Daytona. . Cubs RHP Scott Baker threw a bullpen session and will throw one more before resuming his rehab assignment at Daytona. Baker, 31, is working back from Tommy John surgery. He has allowed 14 earned runs in 12 innings through four rehab outings at Class-A Kane County and Daytona. . On Tuesday, the Reds Homer Bailey (7-10, 3.73) faces the Cubs Jeff Samardzija (6-11, 4.23).Twins Jerseys China . Jane Virtanen scored two, and Alex Roach and Elliott Peterson rounded out the offence for the Hitmen (40-15-6). Brady Brassart chipped in with three assists. Colton McCarthy scored twice, Brayden Point had a goal and two assists, and Jack Rodewald also scored for the Warriors (15-35-9), who were 2 for 5 on the power play. Wholesale Custom Twins Shirts . -- Adam Snyder returned to the San Francisco 49ers this season because the offensive lineman thought it was his best opportunity to win a championship. http://www.customtwinsjersey.com/custom-harmon-killebrew-jersey-large-72s.html . With their top three point guards and Kobe Bryant all sidelined by injury, the Lakers signed Marshall out of the D-League on Friday before their home game against Minnesota. Custom Twins Jersey China . Goals from Jerome Boateng, Franck Ribery and Thomas Mueller extended Bayerns unbeaten run to a record 37 matches. "This record is incredible," Bayern coach Pep Guardiola said. Custom Twins Jerseys . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans.The Denver Broncos defence have claimed that Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton threw in the towel during Super Bowl 50.The Broncos lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night after a 24-10 victory over the Panthers inspired by their rugged and remorseless defensive unit.Newton, the leagues MVP, wasnt able to throw a single touchdown and was sacked seven times before attracting criticism in the closing stages for failing to react quickly after he fumbled the ball. No dancing, he had danced enough. No way he was going to tear us up. Were too smart for him. Aqib Talib on Cam Newton If he would have touched that ball, I was going to hit him right in his face, and I wasnt the only one, said Broncos safety TJ Ward on NFL.com.We were hungry for that one. We saw that ball and it was like hyenas on an antelope. And I dont know - maybe he needed to stay healthy for next year. Watch all seven sacks the Denver Broncos registered on Cam Newton Newton wasnt able to perform any of the trademark theatrics that have followed his touchdowns all year as he spent the duration of the game fighting off the Broncos relentless defence.Aqib Talib, the cornerback who helped keep Panthers tight end Greg Olsen quiet during the Super Bowl, claims that Newtons attention-seeking personality motivated the Broncos to stop him. Highlights of the Panthers against the Broncos in Super Bowl 50.dddddddddddd No dancing, he had danced enough, Talib said. No way he was going to tear us up. Were too smart for him.They really have a simple offence. They come out in a bunch of different formations that they shift around, and they run one or two plays out of them. If you can figure out the formations, what they do is really simple. We knew he wasnt going to come out and tear us up. We knew all their looks.He tapped out, Talib said of Newton. Yeah, he didnt want it. Cam Newton walked out of his Super Bowl press conference following boastful comments from Chris Harris Cornerback Chris Harris added: They thought they were going to come in and run the football and throw it all over the place - what?They hadnt watched us live. And its a shock to the system. Cam was scared to throw it. He looked blind. He couldnt figure out where to throw. Thats what pressure does, man.Also See:Neil Reynolds Pick SixCam in no mood to talkSuper Bowl talking pointsNewtons physics ' ' '