CHICAGO Il. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds struggles continue Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field, as the Chicago Cubs used a seven-run fourth inning to beat Cincinnati, 8-3.

Michael Conforto opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning. Chicago then broke the game open in the fourth, scoring seven runs on a bases-loaded walk, a fielder’s choice, RBI hits from Pete Crow-Armstrong, Miguel Amaya and Nico Hoerner, and a sacrifice fly by Moisés Ballesteros.

Reds starter Rhett Lowder took the loss, allowing three runs on one hit with four walks over three innings. Connor Phillips allowed five runs in relief.

Cincinnati got on the board in the sixth on Sal Stewart’s 10th home run of the season. Blake Dunn added his first homer of the year in the eighth, and JJ Bleday drove in Stewart with a ninth-inning double.

The Reds have now lost seven straight and fall to 20-18, last in the National League Central.

Cincinnati returns home Friday to Great American Ball Park to open a series with the Houston Astros. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m., with Inside Pitch beginning at 5:40 on WMDJ FM 100.1.