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Rockies deal Reds 10th loss in 11 games

May 27, 2015 - 7:38 PM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Nolan Arenado hit a three-run homer in the first inning as the Colorado Rockies built a big lead, then escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth with minimal damage to beat the Cincinnati Reds 6-4 on Wednesday afternoon.

Kyle Kendrick (2-6) pitched into the eighth to pick up the win, Colorado's first in his last six starts. The right-hander was charged with four runs on five hits and a walk in 7 1/3 frames.

Charlie Blackmon added a two-run homer in the second inning for the Rockies, who won two of three in the series and have taken four of their last five games overall.

Both homers came against Cincinnati starter Mike Leake (2-4), who gave up six runs, nine hits and two walks in five innings.

Todd Frazier and Tucker Barnhart hit solo homers for the Reds, who have lost 10 of their last 11. Their 2-1 win on Tuesday snapped a nine-game slide, their longest losing streak in almost 17 years.

Barnhart hit his third homer of the season to right field on Kendrick's second pitch in the eighth, sparking a three-run rally that got the Reds within 6-4. Kendrick put two runners on base before he was taken out for Boone Logan, who walked Joey Votto and Frazier to force in another run.

Jay Bruce followed with an RBI single to keep the bases loaded and the Rockies turned to Rafael Betancourt, who produced two fly balls to get them out of further trouble.

John Axford threw a 1-2-3 ninth inning for Colorado to pick up his eighth save of the season.

Arenado's towering home run to left field was his 10th of the season. It could have been a grand slam, but Blackmon was caught trying to steal third base in the inning.

Frazier lined a two-out blast into the left-center field seats in the bottom of the first, his 14th home run of the season.

But DJ LeMahieu extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the second inning and Blackmon launched a two-out blast to right-center for his seventh homer of the season.

The Rockies used three singles in the fifth inning, the last by Ben Paulsen, to take a 6-1 lead.

Game Notes

Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips struck out as a pinch-hitter in the ninth inning after missing Tuesday's game with a toe injury ... Bruce made a leaping catch against the right-field wall on Michael McKenry's drive leading off the second inning ... The Rockies remain on the road for a three-game series in Philadelphia starting Friday ... The Reds host NL East-leading Washington for three games beginning Friday.