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Reds pound Braves

Jul 24, 2011 - 12:26 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Edgar Renteria and Todd Frazier collected three RBI apiece to pace the Reds to an 11-2 thrashing of the Atlanta Braves in the middle tilt of a three-game series at Great American Ball Park.

Brandon Phillips went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI while Ryan Hanigan chipped in with a double among his two hits.

Homer Bailey (5-4) worked six solid innings, giving up two runs on five hits while fanning three and walking three for the Reds, who bounced back after dropping the series opener on Friday.

Derek Lowe (6-8) went five-plus innings in defeat, yielding four runs on six hits with fanning one and walking a pair. Lowe also accounted for the only Braves runs with a double in the second inning.

Jason Heyward had a double for the Braves, who have lost three of their last five contests.

Cincinnati took the lead for good in the sixth. Jay Bruce led off with a pinch-hit double to right and Drew Stubbs followed with a bunt single to give the Reds runners on the corners with no outs. Renteria gave the Reds a 3-2 lead with a two-run double.

Joey Votto then singled and Phillips followed with an RBI double to give Cincinnati a two-run advantage. George Sherrill was summoned from the Braves bullpen with runners on second and third and no outs and did his job by getting Fred Lewis to ground out. He handed the ball off to Scott Proctor, who fanned Jonny Gomes and Frazier to keep the Braves out of further trouble.

"It's the major leagues, it happens that quickly," Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

The Reds scored seven runs in the seventh to push the lead to 11-2. Hanigan doubled to begin the inning and scored on a single by Chris Heisey, who then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Stubbs and scored on a single by Renteria. Votto walked to put two men on with one out. Philips then ripped an RBI double to right off Braves reliever Cristhian Martinez to give the Reds a 7-2 lead. Cincinnati added a fourth run in the inning on a bases loaded walk to pinch-hitter Miguel Cairo.

The trouble continued for the Braves as Frazier ripped a bases-clearning double to give the Reds their nine-run advantage. Hanigan grounded out and Heisey flew out to finally end the nightmare inning for Atlanta.

"It was great out there," Reds manager Dusty Baker said of his team's offensive outburst. "It's been a while since we've done that, hopefully we're waking up and we can memorize how we did it today and just continue."

Earlier, the Reds got on the board in their first-at bat when Stubbs scored on Votto's ground out in the first.

Atlanta took the lead in the second, sparked by Dan Uggla's leadoff single. Eric Hinske walked to give the Braves two runners on with no outs. After Alex Gonzalez fouled out, Nate McLouth singled to center to load the bases with one out for Lowe, who helped his own cause by ripping a two-run double to left. Martin Prado walked to load the bases again but Bailey battled back and retired Heyward and Brian McCann to limit the damage.

Game Notes

Atlanta entered play on Saturday a season-high 18 games over the .500 mark...Cincinnati is 4-8 against the National League East, while Atlanta is 16-8 against the NL Central...Reds shortstop Zack Cozart left the game in the fourth inning with a hyperextended left elbow.