CHICAGO -- The bullpen flopped, the offense disappeared late and the Chicago Cubs again couldnt escape their worst funk this season.Tucker Barnhart hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off Trevor Cahill in the seventh inning, and the Cincinnati Reds beat Chicago 5-3 Wednesday -- the Cubs 12th loss in 17 games.A day after having seven players selected for next weeks All-Star Game, the Cubs lost to the last-place Reds for the second time in three days and dropped below the San Francisco Giants for the majors best record.I cant connect a bunch of negative dots. It just happened, said manager Joe Maddon, who believes this poor stretch is more a snapshot than a sign of bigger problems.Im not really that concerned, he said.Still, the Cubs had been atop the majors since April. Shortstop Addison Russell, part of the entire infield voted in as NL starters, couldnt explain how theyve lost their form.The past few weeks it hasnt been working, Russell said, but we still have high hopes and high faith.Chicago led 3-1 when Brandon Phillips and Jose Peraza hit consecutive one-out singles against Cahill (1-3) and Barnhart sent a 2-2 sinker into the basket in center field for his third home run this year.It brought everyone to life, I can tell you that, Reds manager Bryan Price said.Zack Cozart homered for the third straight game, starting Cincinnatis offense with his eighth career leadoff homer. The Reds lone All-Star, Adam Duvall, walked and scored on Carl Edwards Jr.s wild pitch in the eighth.Anthony DeSclafani (3-0) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings, struck out six and walked none. Michael Lorenzen pitched two hitless innings, and Tony Cingrani got three straight outs for his 10th save in 15 chances.The Reds improved to 3-10 against their division rivals.We should be more competitive against everybody, I think, once we get our pitching into good shape, Price said. I think were closer.Adam Warren was called up from Triple-A Iowa to give the Chicago rotation extra rest with a spot start, and he allowed three hits in five innings, retiring his final 11 batters.Russell hit an RBI double in the second and scored on Miguel Monteros single, and Ben Zobrists fifth-inning homer gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead.But the Cubs didnt have a hit after the fifth inning. Theyre 1-5 in their last six home games after starting 25-8 at Wrigley Field.Listen, the big thing we need to do better in the latter part of the game is scoring runs, Maddon said. If its close, were behind or its tied were just not doing a really good job of finishing off games offensively.TRAINERS ROOMReds: RF Jay Bruce, left off the All-Star team, didnt start to rest assorted aches and pains. He pinch hit in the ninth and walked before being thrown out trying to steal second. Hes just beat up right now, manager Bryan Price said. Bruce took his All-Star snub in stride. Im not the first guy to be left off and Im not going to be the last, he said.Cubs: CF Dexter Fowlers first All-Star Game is uncertain as he recovers from a strained right hamstring. Manager Joe Maddon said the team will decide in the next few days whether Fowler is ready for a minor league rehab assignment. ... C David Ross was placed on the seven-day concussion disabled list after taking a foul ball off his mask Tuesday. While with Boston, he missed much of 2013 after taking foul balls off the mask that May 11 and June 14. ... Tommy La Stella (hamstring) was activated off the DL, started at third and went 1 for 4.PERFECT THIEFCincinnati stole four bases, two by Peraza. He is 12 for 12 in steal attempts, including 9 for 9 this season.WOODROW WILSON STYLEThe teams wore baggy throwback uniforms with high socks to commemorate 100 years at Wrigley Field. The Cubs and Reds played the first game at what was then Weeghman Park on April 20, 1916.UP NEXTReds: After an off day in Miami, RHP Dan Straily (4-5, 4.34 ERA) starts Friday night against Marlins ace Jose Fernandez (10-4, 2.69).Cubs: RHP Jason Hammel (7-5, 3.45) is to face Atlanta LHP Lucas Harrell (1-0, 1.50) Thursday night at Wrigley Field in the makeup of an April 30 rainout. Brock Holt Jersey . PAUL, Minn. Allen Craig Red Sox Jersey . That gave fans outside Joe Louis Arena another chance to ask for autographs from the 19-year-old whose stardom in the NHL has arrived earlier than most expected. https://www.cheapredsox.com/1111z-ted-williams-jersey-red-sox.html . Nine days before the opening ceremony, organizing committee chief Dmitry Chernyshenko said Wednesday that Sochi is "fully ready" and will deliver safe, friendly and well-run games that defy the grim reports that have overshadowed preparations. Bobby Doerr Red Sox Jersey . -- Anaheim Ducks defenceman Luca Sbisa will be out at least six weeks with a torn tendon in his right hand. Tony Conigliaro Red Sox Jersey . -- Ty Montgomery had 290 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns, and fifth-ranked Stanford held on to beat No. Bruce Bochy and Dave Roberts manage rival teams in the NL West, but they can probably agree on one thing: A no-hitter is no easy spot for a manager.Roberts caused quite a stir Saturday night when he pulled Los Angeles Dodgers starter Rich Hill after seven innings, even though the left-hander was working on a perfect game. Hill has been bothered by a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. The Dodgers eventually allowed two hits after Hills departure.Last month, Bochy was pacing around the dugout as San Franciscos Matt Moore closed in on a no-hitter. Bochy let Moore -- who missed most of the last two seasons after Tommy John surgery -- stay in until he allowed his first hit with two outs in the ninth. Moore threw 133 pitches.Now that managers are more sensitive to high pitch counts, a no-hitter in progress can become pretty stressful.Theyre not used to throwing 120, 130 pitches. You have guys that sometimes have had injuries in their career that youre concerned about, New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. Sometimes as a manager, you want to see it take place, you want to see a guy have a perfect game and you want to see a guy have a no-hitter. But theres part of you that says you dont want to be in that situation.Roberts had to take into account Hills health problems and the Dodgers playoff prospects, weighing all of that against Hills opportunity to accomplish something special. Managers around baseball understood the move -- and so did Cleveland right-hander Corey Kluber.Its probably disappointing at that point in time, but theyre playing for more than just one game, Kluber said. Theyre trying to get him lined up to be a big part of their team for the playoffs, Id imagine. I think that ultimately when you look at it, thats the reason, and its hard to argue with it.Detroit manager Brad Ausmus pulled lefty Daniel Norris after five perfect innings last year, but there was little controversy abouut that because Norris was on a pitch count following an oblique strain.ddddddddddddAusmus said the score can also factor into the decision.If its a close game and its a guy thats pitch count is climbing, I think ultimately youve got to make the decision if you think its the best way the team can win a game, Ausmus said. Its about amassing wins, not amassing no-hitters.Hill had thrown 89 pitches when he was taken out.Here are a few other developments from around baseball:DOWN TO THE WIREOnly five of the 15 teams in the American League are under .500, so theres quite a race on for the postseason spots. The AL East is particularly wild, with Boston leading Toronto and Baltimore by two games. The New York Yankees are another two games back.The Blue Jays and Orioles currently occupy the wild cards, but Detroit is a couple games behind, tied with the Yankees. Seattle and Houston are 1 1/2 games further behind, and its another half-game back to Kansas City.So thats 10 teams either occupying a postseason spot or within four games of one.CLINCHING TIMEThe Chicago Cubs have a chance to wrap up the NL Central in St. Louis at the home of the rival Cardinals. Chicagos magic number is five heading into a three-game series at St. Louis that starts Monday.FANTASY FOCUSFantasy owners probably didnt mind that much when Hill was pulled from his perfect game bid. It was only his third start since the beginning of August -- and the first time hed thrown seven innings since May 23. A step in the right direction, to say the least.LINE OF THE WEEKHill is the pick here, although Colorados Chad Bettis earns an honorable mention for his two-hitter against San Francisco on Monday.---AP Baseball Writer Mike Fitzpatrick in New York and AP Sports Writer Jon Krawczynski in Minneapolis contributed to this report. ' ' '