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CINCINNATI -- Manager Joe Maddons move was so wacky that even his own players laughed. And when it worked better than anyone could have imagined, the Cubs were celebrating again.Kris Bryant singled home the tiebreaking run in the 15th inning, and Maddon used three pitchers in left field while Chicago beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-2 on Tuesday night in the longest game of the season for both teams.With the Cubs out of position players, relievers Travis Wood and Spencer Patton (1-0) alternated between left field and the mound in the 14th inning, which ended with Patton getting the final out. Wood then finished it off with reliever Pedro Strop in left.When I went out there to do it originally, the infielders were kind of giggling, said Maddon, who had never done anything like it as a manager.It worked perfectly as things started falling in place for the Cubs again.Bryants only hit on Tuesday -- a single off J.J. Hoover (1-2) -- snapped the tie. Javier Baez added a grand slam in the 15th, the sixth career allowed by Hoover, which is a Reds record. Then it was just a matter of figuring out how to finish it off.For the left fielder to pitch to one batter and then go back -- yeah, thats crazy, Baez said. But we had fun.The National Leagues top team went 1-6 last week but has pulled out of the downturn by winning the first two games of a series against the Reds. The Cubs hit five homers -- three by Bryant -- while taking the opener 11-8.Eugenio Suarez singled home the tying run with two outs in the ninth off Hector Rondon, his third blown save in 16 chances, setting the game on its meandering course.There were a lot of instances that suggest things were going to go our way, but we werent able to get it done, Reds manager Bryan Price said. Thats a tough one, a really tough one.Maddon had talked to Wood about playing left field in such a circumstance. The reliever hadnt played outfield since high school, but takes fly balls during batting practice to stay ready. None of the Reds hit the ball to left field with a Cubs reliever out there, which was a disappointment for Wood.It was definitely interesting, a lot of fun, Wood said. I would have liked to have recorded an out.Ben Zobrist led off the game with a homer off left-hander John Lamb. Left-hander Jon Lester singled home another run and allowed only one hit until the eighth inning, when Billy Hamilton homered. The Cubs closer couldnt hold on.A lot of the focus Tuesday was on Bryant, who was coming off a historic performance.Bryant became the first major league player to hit three homers and two doubles in a game on Monday night. He set a Cubs record with 16 total bases and became the youngest Cubs player to hit three homers in a game since Ernie Banks did it in 1955, also at the age of 24.Bryant broke his three-homer bat the first time up on Tuesday, cracking it on a groundout. The bat boy retrieved it and took it to the Major League Baseball authenticator, who labeled the bat and safely stored it. Bryant flied out, walked twice, fouled out with two runners aboard for the final out in the 10th, and struck out in the 13th before driving in the go-ahead run.SO UNUSUALThe last time a Cubs pitcher played the outfield was 2009 when Sean Marshall was in left.TRAINERS ROOMReds: RHP Homer Bailey felt fine a day after throwing an inning in his first rehab start. Bailey, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery 13 months ago, is expected to pitch again on Saturday. ... 2B Brandon Phillips fouled a ball off the inside of his left foot in the first inning. He fouled another pitch off the same foot in his next at-bat and got hit in the left side by a pitch from Rondon in the ninth.UP NEXTCubs: Kyle Hendricks (5-6, 2.76) is 1-5 with a 3.79 ERA in seven road starts this season. Hes 4-1 with a 1.93 ERA in seven home games.Reds: Cody Reed (0-1, 6.75) makes his third career start. In his first appearance at Great American Ball Park last Friday, he gave up five runs in five innings of a 13-4 loss to the Padres.---Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekayRyan Dempster Cubs Jersey . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. Duane Underwood Jr. Cubs Jersey . Thousands of fans at Mosaic Stadium will be cozying up to each other in an effort to stay warm in chilly temperatures and block the Prairie wind that locals say can knock your socks off. https://www.cheapcubs.com/1770t-leon-durham-jersey-cubs.html . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. Robel Garcia Jersey .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Kyle Ryan Cubs Jersey . Down by seven with 90 seconds left in regulation, thats where they looked comfortable.PHILADELPHIA -- Cam Newton should start wearing khakis and a navy blue blazer on team flights.The reigning NFL MVP was benched to start Carolinas loss at Seattle because of a dress code violation. Derek Anderson was under center for the first play and threw an interception .Newton returned for the next series, but the defending NFC champion Panthers (4-8) were blown out by the Seahawks (8-3-1).Newton is known for his colorful, stylish wardrobe, but he was punished by coach Ron Rivera for failing to wear a tie on the trip to Seattle.The best way for Newton to avoid any future violations is to ignore fashion and dress boring.Here are other overreactions following Week 13:OVERREACTION: Tom Brady and the Patriots dont miss Rob Gronkowski. They had 402 total yards in a 26-10 win against the Rams.REALISTIC REACTION: They were 4 for 16 on third down. It didnt matter against the Rams (4-8), but that can hurt them in the playoffs.---OVERREACTION: Dan Quinns decision to go for the 2-point conversion was a bonehead call that cost the Falcons a win against the Chiefs.REALISTIC REACTION: Every coach would try to extend a 1-point lead to three late in the fourth quarter.---OVERREACTION: The Pack is back. Aaron Rodgers will lead Green Bay (6-6) to a division title.REALISTIC REACTION: They still trail the Lions (8-4) by two games with four left.---OVERREACTION: Doug Pederson is on the hot seat in Philadelphia after going 2-7 following a 3-0 start.REALISTIC REACTION: The Eagles are regressing in a rebuildinng year but owner Jeffrey Lurie wont pull the plug on Pederson after one season with a rookie quarterback.dddddddddddd---OVERREACTION: Baltimore (7-5) proved it is the team to beat in the AFC North with a dominant 38-6 win over Miami.REALISTIC REACTION: The Steelers (7-5) had an impressive win over the Giants (8-4).---OVERREACTION: Paxton Lynch cant lead the Broncos to wins against good teams.REALISTIC REACTION: With that defense, Lynch doesnt have to do much. Neither does Trevor Siemian when hes healthy enough to play.---OVERREACTION: Snow cost the Texans a win at Green Bay.REALISTIC REACTION: Perfect field conditions wouldnt have helped that offense.---OVERREACTION: Jordan Howard is another reason why teams shouldnt pick running backs on the first two days of the NFL draft. He was a fifth-round steal for the Bears.REALISTIC REACTION: Tell that to the Cowboys. Ezekiel Elliott is an MVP candidate.---OVERREACTION: Dont count the Cardinals (5-6-1) out of the playoff race.REALISTIC REACTION: Nice win over the Redskins (6-5-1) but Arizona still trails four teams for the second NFC wild card.---OVERREACTION: The Chiefs-Raiders matchup Thursday night is an AFC championship preview.REALISTIC REACTION: Remember the Patriots?---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP-RobMaaddi ' ' '