NL | Cubs can't seem to find their way back to winning

The first-place Cubs have lost their way.

Jay Bruce hit his first career grand slam and Joey Votto added a two-run homer Friday night, an all-rookie power display that sent the Cincinnati Reds to a 10-2 victory on a day when nothing went right for Chicago.

Manager Lou Piniella got lost on his way to Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark. Starter Ted Lilly lasted a season-low two innings. And the Cubs' losing streak reached a season-high six games against a team already eliminated from the race.

"That's not what we expected," Piniella said.

It's how the week has gone.

Lilly (13-9) gave up five runs, including Votto's 18th homer, before his quick exit. The left-hander has started four times against the Reds this season and lost all four.

"For one reason or another, one way or another, they've found a way to beat me," Lilly said. "That was probably my most disappointing start of the year. I had much more motivation to win this one, given the circumstances of the last few days."

September has been disastrous for Chicago. Ace Carlos Zambrano got an injection in his sore pitching shoulder on Thursday and will miss at least one start. Right-hander Rich Harden also will miss a start because of a bothersome arm.

As for Piniella, he and first-base coach Matt Sinatro left Chicago at 8 a.m. for a five-hour drive to Cincinnati. With Sinatro driving and Piniella napping, they missed a turnoff and wound up in northeast Ohio — the wrong end of the state.

They stopped at a gas station, bought a map and backtracked along two-lane roads, arriving at the ballpark just two hours before the first pitch. Travel time: 8 hours.

Colorado: Eric Young, who played for Colorado during its inaugural season in 1993, will officially retire as a member of the Rockies. The club will honor him with Eric Young Day on Sept. 12.

Florida: Reliever Arthur Rhodes has not allowed a run in 15 appearances since arriving on the trade deadline from Seattle, covering 9-1/3 innings.

Milwaukee: The Brewers signed former Minnesota INF Mike Lamb to a free-agent contract. To make room on the 40-man roster for Lamb, Milwaukee designated C Lou Palmisano for assignment. ... Friday's win was the Brewers' 3,000th in franchise history.

New York: Closer Billy Wagner (elbow) threw another bullpen session and said it went well. He and the Mets are targeting a Tuesday return, but Wagner thinks it might be better to hold off until next weekend against Atlanta.

Philadelphia: In a pep talk via e-mail, Mike Schmidt reminded the Phillies of their big comeback to win the NL East last season and said, "The Mets know you're better than they are." The Hall of Famer sent the message to manager Charlie Manuel hoping to fire up the team before their crucial weekend series against its division rival. New York's Billy Wagner didn't have much to say in response, except: "Did Gary Carter send us one?"

St. Louis: Jason Isringhausen, twice demoted from the Cardinals' closer role last month before landing on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow strain, will have season-ending surgery next week.

San Francisco: A light earthquake in the San Francisco Bay Area and was felt during the Giants' game with Pittsburgh. The 4.0 temblor did not interrupt the game.

Washington: RHP Shawn Hill is expected to be ready for spring training after having bone spurs and calcium deposits scraped from his right elbow in surgery Friday. ... MRI results confirmed that INF Ronnie Belliard has a strained groin. Manager Manny Acta said it was too early to determine if he will miss the rest of the season.

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