• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Leake solid as Reds down Braves

May 28, 2011 - 4:05 AM Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - Mike Leake and the Reds bullpen quieted the Braves, while Fred Lewis had an RBI double and scored the deciding run in a 5-1 win to open a three-game series at Turner Field.

Leake (4-2), recalled from Triple-A Louisville before the game, yielded just one run on seven hits and three walks over six innings to pick up the win in his first start since May 3.

"It was nice that they sent me down just so I could [clear my head]," Leake said. "I was just trying to go out there and get a quality outing."

Atlanta's starter, Tommy Hanson, didn't make it out of the fifth. After winning four straight decisions, Hanson (5-4) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on four hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings to take the loss.

Cincinnati won for just the second time in 10 games despite leaving 14 runners on base.

The Braves stranded 11, three coming in the eighth inning when Reds reliever Nick Masset got Alex Gonzalez to ground into a routine fielder's choice to end the threat.

"We're not really in a rhythm right now," said Hanson. "We just have to keep battling and keep playing hard."

Ramon Hernandez tacked on a two-run homer off Craig Kimbrel in the ninth for a 5-1 lead, and Francisco Cordero closed out the victory in the ninth in a non- save situation.

Lewis one-hopped the wall in left-center to plate Scott Rolen from first in the second inning, then scored in the fourth to make it 2-0.

He walked with one out, moved to third when Hanson threw away a potential double-play ball and crossed home without a throw on Paul Janish's squeeze bunt.

Hanson was taken out of the game an inning later with two outs and runners on the corners, and reliever George Sherrill had a comebacker from Jay Bruce glance off his glove for a run-scoring hit.

The Braves threatened in the sixth with runners on the corners and one out, but only got one run across on Dan Uggla's sacrifice fly to the warning track in center. It was Uggla's first RBI since May 15.

Game Notes

Atlanta was coming off a 3-4 road trip...The Reds went 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Atlanta went 1-for-7 in the same situations...Bruce has 13 RBI in his last six games...To open a roster spot for Leake, the Reds placed starting pitcher Homer Bailey on the 15-day disabled list due to a right shoulder injury...Kimbrel had not allowed a home run in 46 career appearances prior to Hernandez's long ball.