Reds 4, Cubs 1: Alfredo Simon tossed six strong frames and Billy Hamilton drove in a run as visiting Cincinnati continued its recent mastery of Chicago.

Simon (2-1) yielded one unearned run on four hits before two relievers bridged the gap to Jonathan Broxton, who worked around a two-out walk in the ninth inning for his second save to send the Reds to their 16th win in their last 17 games in Chicago. Ryan Ludwick singled twice in three at-bats and scored a run while Devin Mesoraco, Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier also crossed the plate for Cincinnati.

Jeff Samardzija (0-2) struck out seven over seven innings, but was charged with three runs (one earned) on six hits as Chicago dropped its fifth straight contest. Luis Valbuena knocked in the Cubs’ run in the seventh to end their scoreless drought at 24 innings after they were blanked on both ends of a doubleheader Wednesday against the New York Yankees.

Mesoraco singled to lead off the fifth, stole second and came around to score on Hamilton’s double to shallow left. The Reds loaded the bases with one out in the next inning and padded their lead with two more runs when a fielder’s choice grounder from Zack Cozart plated Bruce and an errant throw by second baseman Emilio Bonifacio on a potential inning-ending double play allowed Ludwick to cross as well.

Starlin Castro singled to open the seventh and the Cubs ended the shutout bid three batters later on Valbuena’s RBI single. The Reds got the run back in the eighth as Frazier drew a one-out walk, moved to third on Ludwick’s infield single and scored on a wild pitch by Chicago reliever Justin Grimm.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cincinnati 2B Brandon Phillips appeared to tweak his back on a swing in the first and remained in the game to collect a single, but was removed from the game due to back spasms after striking out in the third and was replaced by Santiago. … The Cubs have scored one run or fewer in three of Samardzija’s four outings. … Reds LH Aroldis Chapman was cleared to throw batting practice Friday. The two-time All-Star closer has been sidelined since March 10, when he sustained fractures to his nose and a bone above his left eye after getting hit by a line drive.