Rolen’s HR leads Reds over Cubs 4-0

CINCINNATI — Scott Rolen returned from a beaning that left him sore and blurry for two days, then hit a two-run homer on his first swing Wednesday night to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs that ended their eight-game losing streak.

Right-hander Justin Lehr (1-0) limited the Cubs to four hits in his first complete game. The 32-year-old Lehr was a reliever for Oakland and Milwaukee in 2004-06, and was making only his second start in the majors. It was his first win since May 18, 2006, with the Brewers.

The Reds got Rolen from Toronto in a four-player deal Friday, looking for leadership and a right-handed bat. He went 0 for 6 with Cincinnati before getting hit in the head by a Jason Marquis pitch on Sunday.

Cleared by a CT scan, Rolen made his first Reds hit a pivotal one. His homer on the first pitch from Rich Harden (7-7) put the Reds on course for only their second victory in 16 games.

Despite the loss, Chicago remained in first place in the NL Central for a third straight day, percentage points ahead of St. Louis. The Cardinals lost to the Mets 9-0 earlier in the day.

After wallowing in fourth place for much of the first half, the Cubs have gone 14-6 since the All-Star break, making their charge to the top. And, they’re getting some of their injured players back.

Infielder Aaron Miles was activated off the disabled list — he’d been sidelined since June by a sore elbow — and started at shortstop Wednesday. Catcher Geovany Soto is expected to return on Friday after sitting out since May 7 with strained muscles in his left side.

The Cubs couldn’t do much against an unfamiliar pitcher. Lehr kept the Cubs off balance by changing speeds on his pitches, and picked Alfonso Soriano off first base following a seventh-inning single. The Reds called Lehr up from the minors after Micah Owings went on the disabled list Aug. 1.

The Reds had never beaten Harden, who was 4-0 in four career starts against Cincinnati. The right-hander had a hand in his first loss.

Harden’s first pitch to Rolen was down the middle and above the belt. Rolen hit it into the seats in center for his first homer since July 26 with Toronto, when he hit No. 8. Harden’s throwing error on a sacrifice bunt let in another run later in the inning.

Willy Taveras had an infield single, stole two bases and scored on Alex Gonzalez’s sacrifice fly for a 4-0 lead in the seventh.

NOTES: Cubs general manager Jim Hendry said starter Ted Lilly, out with a sore left shoulder, threw without problem on Wednesday. Lilly is expected back this month. … Reds RHP Jared Burton began a minor league rehab assignment. The reliever has been on the DL since July 26 with a tired right shoulder. … Owings threw 75 pitches off the mound without problem. He’s eligible to come off the DL on Tuesday from tightness in his shoulder.