Sammy Sosa celebrates his two-run HR. (AP photos) | ZOOM |

        During an eight-game losing streak that cost them first place in the NL Central, the Chicago Cubs kept saying things would get better soon. No one expected such a dramatic about-face.

        The Cubs won their 10th in a row Wednesday night as Sammy Sosa hit his first homer of the streak, a two-run shot that set up a 3-1 victory over the down-and-out Reds.

        Chicago (31-20) was joyful as it completed a month of extremes. After building a 3 1/2-game lead on May 9, the Cubs went on an eight-game skid that dropped them to fourth, 3 1/2 games out.

        “The thing that I liked was that nobody put their head down,” Sosa said. “They didn't complain. We knew sooner or later, we were going to turn it around. You can see the difference now. Believing is the key.”

        Their longest winning streak since 1998 put them back in first, two games ahead of St. Louis, and prompted talk that this team — like the '98 team — has what it takes to make the playoffs.

        “When you do everything — pitching, defense, hitting — you're going to win some games,” Sosa said. “We're getting everything. That's how you win the division and that's how to go to the playoffs.”

        Sosa's first-inning homer off Chris Reitsma (2-5) gave Jon Lieber (5-3) all the runs he needed. It was Sosa's first homer since May 16, when he hit career No. 400.

        With Sosa hitting homers again, the Cubs have everything going.

        “Pitching, hitting, defense — you like to get two of the three,” Baylor said. “Most days, we're getting all three.”

        Cubs Notes: Chicago has 31 wins heading into June for only the third time. The Cubs' record for wins before June 1 is 32 in 1969, when they went 32-16. The 1998 team also won 31, going 31-24.... Chicago's pitchers have given up only two homers and combined for a 2.11 earned run average during the streak. The offense has hit .289 and averaged 5.1 runs per game.

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