CHICAGO — It’s been nine years — not to mention seven managers — since the Cincinnati Reds have had a winning record. They’re sick of being bad and determined to make 2009 a season to remember.

‘‘We’re making it known that we’re going to come out and battle everybody,’’ Aaron Harang said Thursday after allowing only one unearned run over seven innings in a 7-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

The Reds went 7-3 on their first road swing of the season, marking the first time since 2004 they’d won three series on the same trip.

That the opponents were NL Central foes Chicago, Houston and MIlwaukee made it even more special to Harang.

‘‘Being in our division, it’s probably going to come down to the end of the year,’’ he said. ‘‘To come in early and get some big wins right now, it means a lot.’’

Joey Votto homered, doubled twice, singled and drove in two runs. He was asked if winning two of three against the two-time defending division champions sent a message to other Central teams.

‘‘I think it is more of a message to ourselves,’’ he said. ‘‘As long as the road trip was, to be able to finish off on such a good note … it’s big for us.’’

Harang (2-2) scattered seven hits in outpitching Cubs ace Carlos Zambrano (1-1), who hasn’t won at Wrigley Field since last Aug. 21. Harang walked one and struck out two, including his 1,000th career strikeout.

Votto tied his career high for hits as the Reds finally put some runs on the board for Harang — he had received one, two and zero runs of support in his first three starts.

Reds 7, Cubs 1

Cincinnati Chicago

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Taveras cf 5 2 2 0 ASorin lf 4 1 2 0

Dickrsn lf 5 1 2 2 Theriot ss 4 0 1 1

Votto 1b 5 1 4 2 Fukdm cf 3 0 1 0

Encrnc 3b 4 0 0 0 D.Lee 1b 4 0 0 0

Bruce rf 4 0 1 1 ArRmr 3b 4 0 1 0

Phillips 2b 3 1 1 0 Hoffpar rf 4 0 1 0

RHrnandz c 4 2 2 0 Soto c 3 0 0 0

AlGnzlz ss 4 0 1 1 Fontent 2b 3 0 1 0

Harang p 3 0 0 0 Zamrn p 2 0 0 0

Weathers p 0 0 0 0 Cotts p 0 0 0 0

Nix ph 1 0 0 0 Miles ph 1 0 0 0

Masset p 0 0 0 0 Smrdzj p 0 0 0 0

Totals 38 7 13 6 Totals 32 1 7 1

Cincinnati 000 101 212 — 7

Chicago 000 001 000 — 1

E—Encarnacion (2), Dickerson (3), Zambrano (1), Hoffpauir (1). DP—Cincinnati 1, Chicago 1. LOB—Cincinnati 6, Chicago 6. 2B—Taveras (2), Votto 2 (7), A.Soriano (4). 3B—Dickerson (1). HR—Votto (3). SB—Taveras (4). CS—A.Soriano (2), Theriot (2).

IP H R ER BB SO

Cincinnati

Harang W,2-2 7 7 1 0 1 2

Weathers 1 0 0 0 0 2

Masset 1 0 0 0 1 0

Chicago

Zambrano L,1-1 7 7 4 3 2 7

Cotts 1 2 1 1 0 1

Samardzija 1 4 2 2 0 1

Harang pitched to 1 batter in the 8th. WP—Weathers, Zambrano. Umpires—Home, James Hoye; First, Adrian Johnson; Second, Randy Marsh; Third, Lance Barksdale. T—2:42. A—40,039 (41,210).