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Reds seek another victory in Philadelphia

May 25, 2011 - 2:45 PM (Sports Network) - Ending a nine-game drought in the City of Brotherly Love last night had to feel good for the slumping Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds look to build on their rare victory in Philadelphia this evening in the third test of a four-game series from Citizens Bank Park. Including last year's three-game sweep in the NLDS, the Phillies had won nine in a row at home against Cincinnati and eight straight overall. The Phillies won five of seven matchups with Cincinnati in the regular season a year ago.

Jay Bruce helped the Reds end their season-high six-game losing streak and finally solve the Phils by stroking a bases-clearing double in the top of the ninth inning to lift his club to a 6-3 victory. Brandon Phillips drove in two runs and former Phillie Scott Rolen added two hits and an RBI for Cincinnati, which is 1-4 on a 10-game road trip.

"We got some clutch hits at the end there," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "Big bunt by (Drew Stubbs). (Rolen) got a big hit and none bigger than Jay Bruce's."

Baker's club will also visit Atlanta for three games on the trek and received six solid innings out of starter Johnny Cueto. Cueto allowed three runs in six innings for the no-decision and Logan Ondrusek notched the win for getting the final out in the eighth inning. Francisco Cordero set the Phillies down in order in the ninth for his ninth save.

Travis Wood gets the nod for the Reds tonight and is 3-3 with a 5.17 earned run average in 10 starts. He is 2-0 over his previous four outings and escaped defeat the last time out in Friday's 5-4 loss at Cleveland, giving up four runs in 5 1/3 innings for the no-decision.

The lefty has faced the Phillies twice in his career and pitched a gem in a 1-0 loss in 11 innings on July 10 of last season. Wood and Roy Halladay, tonight's starter for the Phillies, both hurled nine scoreless innings. Wood allowed only one hit and struck out eight batters, then faced Philadelphia in Game 1 of the NLDS, pitching 3 1/3 shutout innings of relief in a 4-0 loss.

In that playoff win for the Phillies, Halladay threw the second no-hitter in playoff history and fanned eight batters with one walk in his first-ever postseason game. Don Larsen is the only other pitcher to throw a postseason no-hitter. Halladay, who threw a perfect game at Florida last May, will try to tame the Reds once again and is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in four regular season starts in this series.

Halladay is 3-0 with a 1.87 ERA in his last three home starts and has received a total of six runs of support in his last three outings. The right-hander defeated Texas the last time out in a 3-2 triumph on Friday, as he held the defending American League champions to two runs on six hits with seven K's to run his 2011 record to 6-3 with a 2.21 ERA in 10 starts.

The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner is 4-1 in six home starts this season.

Philadelphia fell to 4-3 on a nine-game residency with Tuesday's loss, which was pinned on relief pitcher Ryan Madson. Madson allowed a bunt single to Stubbs with one out in the ninth and his errant throw to first allowed the runner to advance to second base. After Phillips lined out, reigning NL MVP Joey Votto drew an intentional walk and Rolen reached on an infield single to load the bases for Bruce, who cleared them with a two-base hit.

Raul Ibanez finished with three hits, two runs scored and a run batted in, while Carlos Ruiz and Domonic Brown were each credited with an RBI in a losing effort. Chase Utley posted his first hit of the season and is 1-for-9 since returning from the disabled list with a balky knee.

The Phillies will wrap up their homestand with a matinee affair on Thursday.