PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Homer Bailey took a step backward after a few solid outings.
Cole Hamels threw seven sharp innings to earn his 100th career win, Domonic Brown had a career-best five RBIs and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-1 on Saturday night to end a four-game losing streak.
Bailey (3-3) lasted only 3 2-3 innings, allowing six runs and seven hits. He had three straight starts of three runs or less after allowing four or more in four of his first five starts.
“I didn’t have command with anything,” he said. “Sometimes that’s just the way it goes. I’ve been there before. You just have to keep working hard and keep your focus.”
Bailey had a scoreless streak of 18 innings against the Phillies before Cody Asche snapped Philadelphia’s 23-inning scoreless streak with a two-run double that sparked a six-run fourth. Cesar Hernandez capped the scoring for the Phillies with his first career homer.
“Homer wasn’t real sharp,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “When he’s on, he’s locating with his fastball.”
Hamels (1-2) didn’t need much run support.
Coming off a career-high 133-pitch outing at the Mets last Sunday, the three-time All-Star left-hander was impressive. Hamels gave up one run and three hits, striking out 10 on 90 pitches.
Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, was stuck on 99 wins since last Sept. 14. He improved to 9-0 against the Reds, including the postseason. The Phillies are 12-0 when Hamels starts vs. Cincinnati.
“He was really sharp,” Price said. “He hit both sides of the plate with his full arsenal.”
Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg used his 23rd different lineup in 40 games. Jimmy Rollins led off for the second straight game instead of Ben Revere, who has a stomach virus. Asche moved up to sixth from eighth and Brown was dropped to seventh from sixth.
It worked.
Ryan Howard started the fourth with a walk and Marlon Byrd hit a double to end an 0-for-13 slump. Asche then lined a double to right on an 0-2 pitch for a 2-1 lead.
Brown followed with a two-run shot into the second deck in right field. Brown got a green light on a 3-0 pitch and didn’t miss it, connecting for only his second homer in 234 at-bats, dating to last season. Brown led the Phillies with 27 homers in 2013 and was an NL All-Star in his first full season in the majors.
“I got in a few jams early and left a few balls up,” Bailey said.
Carlos Ruiz chased Bailey with a two-out RBI single. Chase Utley greeted reliever Logan Ondrusek with an RBI single to make it 6-1.
Asche had an RBI single in the seventh, Brown followed with a three-run double and John Mayberry Jr. snapped an 0-for-14 slump with an RBI double.
NOTES: Reds slugger Joey Votto remained in Cincinnati and the team is uncertain whether he’ll need a stint on the DL. Votto has a distal strain of his left quadriceps. … Reds RHP Mat Latos threw his third bullpen session since suffering a setback in his rehab for a strained flexor. Latos is scheduled to face Reds hitters in a simulated game on Tuesday. … The Reds are 7-18 at Citizens Bank Park since 2008. … LHP Tony Cingrani (2-2, 3.34) faces LHP Cliff Lee (3-4, 3.23) of the Phillies in the series finale Sunday.
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