• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Phillips, Reds get the best of Nats

Aug 28, 2011 - 5:07 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Brandon Phillips continued to hit in the leadoff spot, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored Saturday to lead the Reds to a 6-3 win over the Nationals.

Drew Stubbs had three hits and a sacrifice fly for the Reds, who built on Friday's ninth-inning win in the opener of this three-game series to improve to 11-5 in their last 16 games.

They are .500 (66-66) for the first time since July 6, when they were 44-44.

Mike Leake (11-8) earned the win in six innings, allowing two runs on six hits and a walk while striking out four.

Wilson Ramos, Jayson Werth and Michael Morse all hit solo homers for the Nationals, who have lost five straight. Chris Marrero, who was recalled from Triple-A Syracuse, roped a single into left field in the fourth inning for his first major league hit in the loss. He also had two errors at first base.

"He's attacking the ball. I like that," said Nationals manager Davey Johnson. "He made a couple of errors, but that's part of the game."

Ross Detwiler (2-4) took the loss after giving up six runs -- three earned -- on eight hits and a walk in six innings. He is 1-4 in his last five starts.

The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the first inning without a hit after Phillips reached on an error, went to second on a sacrifice bunt, third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch.

Phillips has hit in all 10 games since moving to the leadoff spot.

"I just want to try to make things happen at the top of the lineup and get on base for the big guys so they can drive me in," he said.

Ramos jumped on Leake's first-pitch breaking ball to lead off the third inning, sending his 12th homer over the wall in left-center field. Werth went the opposite way to right-center for a two-out blast, his 16th, to make it 2-1.

But Cincinnati came back with three runs in the bottom of the third to re-take the lead.

Phillips and Dave Sappelt hit back-to-back singles leading off and Phillips scored from second when Joey Votto reached on first baseman Marrero's throwing error. Jay Bruce walked to load the bases and Miguel Cairo and Stubbs both hit sacrifice flies to give the Reds a 4-2 advantage.

In the fourth, Ryan Hanigan singled and went to second on a bunt, then scored on Phillips' single to left. Phillips was gunned down trying to stretch the hit into a double.

Cairo doubled to lead off the sixth, stole third base and came home on Edgar Renteria's sac fly to make it 6-2.

Morse belted his 22nd homer of the season off Sam LeCure in the eighth inning.

Francisco Cordero pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning for his 29th save of the season. He is a perfect 12-for-12 since the All-Star break.

Game Notes

Votto's 11-game hitting streak ended...Leake has given up nine homers in his last five games...The Nationals went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and are just 2-for-34 in their last three games.