Joey Votto homered in a franchise-best sixth straight game and Tucker Barnhart ripped a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning to lift the visiting Cincinnati Reds to a 7-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Thursday.

Votto answered back-to-back two-homer performances by belting a two-run shot in the first inning. The 2010 National League MVP has gone deep eight times in the last six games to boost his home run total to 20, marking the ninth season that he has reached that plateau.

Kyle Farmer added an RBI double and scored on Aristides Aquino's sacrifice fly for the Reds, who won three of the four games in this series and nine of 13 vs. Chicago so far this season.

Luis Castillo (5-10) won his second straight start after allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out eight batters in six innings. Heath Hembree surrendered a solo homer to Ian Happ in the ninth inning before sealing the victory.

Chicago's Willson Contreras launched a two-run homer and Patrick Wisdom also went deep to lead off the fourth inning. Javier Baez went 2-for-4 in his return to the lineup after missing time with a bruised heel for the Cubs, who have lost three in a row and eight of their last 12 games.

Chicago's Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo were held out of the lineup, causing many on social media to question whether either star had been traded before Friday's deadline. Manager David Ross dismissed that notion by saying it was merely a day off for both players.

Jesse Winker ripped a one-out double in the first inning before Votto stepped up two batters later and deposited a 1-1 fastball from Alec Mills (4-4) over the wall in right-center field.

Wisdom halved the deficit before Chicago claimed a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning, courtesy of Contreras' 464-foot homer over the wall in center field.

Cincinnati answered Contreras' 17th homer of the season with Barnhart's single to center field. Tyler Naquin and Votto scored on the play.

Farmer gave the Reds some breathing room with his RBI double to right field in the seventh inning. He capped Cincinnati's scoring on Aquino's sacrifice fly to center.

--Field Level Media