CINCINNATI (AP) — Bryan Price is looking forward to better days with the Cincinnati Reds.
The last-place Reds announced Friday that Price would return next year for a fourth season as manager, and then lost 7-3 to Ben Zobrist and the Chicago Cubs.
Price agreed to a one-year contract with a team option. The entire coaching staff also has been offered contracts for 2017.
“There is a mutual desire to stay connected,” said Price, who has a 207-277 record as Cincinnati’s manager. “For me, it’s an unbelievable opportunity. It is a storied franchise. I have really enjoyed my coaches and my team.”
Joey Votto hit a two-run homer in the ninth for Cincinnati, which has dropped three of four. Josh Smith (3-3) was charged with two runs and three hits in five-plus innings.
It was Smith’s second start of the season after 30 relief appearances.
“I don’t care what role I’m in as long as I’m wearing a Reds uniform,” he said. “I prefer to start. I’ve done that all my life, but I’ve kind of enjoyed my time in the bullpen, talking to guys like Tony Cingrani, who has been a starter. I have developed a routine out there.”
Zobrist homered twice and drove in three runs as Chicago improved to 14-3 against Cincinnati this season with two games to play. Jake Buchanan (1-0) pitched five shutout innings in his first start since 2014 with Houston.
Smith retired his first 12 batters before Zobrist led off the fifth with a drive to right for his first homer since Sept. 12. The All-Star also connected for a two-run shot in Chicago’s four-run eighth, No. 17 on the year.
“It was good,” Smith said. “I challenged hitters early and got a lot of early contact to pitch pretty deep in the game. The ball to Zobrist, I missed my spot.”
Chicago’s first three batters reached in the sixth, chasing Smith, and Addison Russell’s RBI double made it 3-1.
“Josh kept us in the game,” Price said. “That four-run inning gave them the separation they needed.”
HISTORIC HOMERS
Zobrist’s homers were Chicago’s 38th and 39th against the Reds this season, the most by one team against Cincinnati pitching in one season. The 1954 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1957 Milwaukee Braves previously shared the record with 38.
EARLY WARNING
Votto, who left Thursday’s game at St. Louis in the eighth inning with a cut on his chin that required seven stitches, texted Price at 3 a.m. Friday saying that he would be ready to play.

FRIDAY’S GAME
Cubs 7, Reds 3
Chicago NL    AB    R    H    BI    BB    SO    Avg.
Fowler cf    2    1    0    0    2    0    .273
Szczur rf    1    0    0    0    0    0    .258
Bryant 3b    4    1    1    1    0    0    .293
Rizzo 1b    4    1    1    2    0    1    .292
Zobrist 2b-lf    4    3    3    3    0    0    .273
Heyward rf    4    0    0    0    0    0    .228
Almora cf    0    0    0    0    0    0    .279
Russell ss    3    0    1    1    1    0    .241
Coghlan lf    4    0    0    0    0    1    .257
Grimm p    0    0    0    0    0    0    —
Edwards p    0    0    0    0    0    0    .000
Montero c    3    1    1    0    1    1    .213
Buchanan p    1    0    0    0    0    1    .000
a-La Stella ph    1    0    1    0    0    0    .276
Cahill p    0    0    0    0    0    0    .125
Joe.Smith p    0    0    0    0    0    0    —
b-Baez ph-2b    2    0    0    0    0    0    .272
Totals    33    7    8    7    4    4

Cincinnati    AB    R    H    BI    BB    SO    Avg.
Peraza ss    4    1    1    0    0    1    .331
Iribarren cf    4    1    1    1    0    1    .302
Votto 1b    4    1    1    2    0    0    .324
Duvall lf    4    0    0    0    0    3    .242
Suarez 3b    4    0    0    0    0    2    .246
De Jesus 2b    3    0    2    0    1    0    .248
Barnhart c    3    0    0    0    0    0    .257
Renda rf    2    0    0    0    0    0    .182
Cingrani p    0    0    0    0    0    0    —
De Los Santos p    0    0    0    0    0    0    —
Ohlendorf p    0    0    0    0    0    0    —
c-Kivlehan ph-rf    1    0    0    0    0    0    .000
Jos.Smith p    1    0    0    0    0    0    .182
Selsky rf    2    0    0    0    0    1    .313
Magill p    0    0    0    0    0    0    —
Totals    32    3    5    3    1    8

Chicago            000    011    140    =    7    8    0
Cincinnati            000    001    002    =    3    5    0

a-singled for Buchanan in the 6th.  b-lined out for Joe.Smith in the 8th.  c-grounded out for Ohlendorf in the 8th.
LOB—Chicago 3, Cincinnati 3. 2B—Zobrist (31), Russell (25), Peraza (8). HR—Zobrist (16), off Jos.Smith; Zobrist (17), off De Los Santos; Votto (29), off Edwards. RBIs—Bryant (102), Rizzo 2 (108), Zobrist 3 (75), Russell (95), Iribarren (1), Votto 2 (94). CS—La Stella (1).
Runners left in scoring position—Chicago 1 (Montero). RISP—Chicago 2 for 7; Cincinnati 0 for 1.
Runners moved up—Heyward, Iribarren. GIDP—Baez, Renda.
DP—Chicago 1 (Bryant, Zobrist, Rizzo); Cincinnati 1 (Magill, De Jesus, Votto).

Chicago NL    IP    H    R    ER    BB    SO    NP    ERA
Buchanan W, 1-0    5    2    0    0    1    3    66    1.50
Cahill H, 4    1    1    1    1    0    0    20    2.74
Joe.Smith H, 7    1    1    0    0    0    1    11    2.70
Grimm    1    0    0    0    0    2    12    4.13
Edwards    1    1    2    2    0    2    24    3.86

Cincinnati    IP    H    R    ER    BB    SO    NP    ERA
Jos.Smith L, 3-3    5    3    2    2    1    1    64    4.68
Cingrani    2    2    1    1    0    2    28    4.14
De Los Santos    1-3    3    4    4    1    0    22    11.12
Ohlendorf    2-3    0    0    0    1    1    14    4.71
Magill    1    0    0    0    1    0    15    6.23

Jos.Smith pitched to 3 batters in the 6th.
Inherited runners-scored—Cingrani 3-1. WP—Cahill, De Los Santos, Edwards.
Umpires—Home, Gabe Morales; First, Tom Hallion; Second, Chad Whitson; Third, Dan Bellino.
T—2:39. A—27,368 (42,319).