Reds knock off Cardinals, win sixth straight series
CINCINNATI (AP) Brandon Phillips had three hits and left-hander Brandon Finnegan allowed one hit in six innings on Thursday, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-0 victory and a rare series win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Reds took two of three, giving them only their fifth series win in the last 23 between the NL Central rivals. Overall, the Reds have won all of their six series since the All-Star break.
Phillips had a single and a pair of doubles, scored three times and drove in a run against former teammate Mike Leake (8-9). Ramon Cabrera drove in three runs, and Eugenio Suarez knocked in a pair.
Finnegan (7-8) allowed only Jhonny Peralta's single in the fifth inning. He left after throwing 79 pitches on a humid, 88-degree afternoon. The bullpen gave up three singles while closing out Cincinnati's fourth shutout.
Joey Votto went 0 for 4, ending a 17-game hitting streak that was the longest of his career.
