Starting pitching encounters more trouble in Cards' 7-0 loss to Reds

CINCINNATI -- The St. Louis Cardinals haven't been able to put everything together this season. An injury-depleted offense, an erratic defense and an unreliable bullpen cost them games. The most dependable part of the team has let them down lately.

Mike Leake gave up seven runs in five-plus innings on Thursday as the Cincinnati Reds pulled away to a 7-0 victory and took two of three in the series. For the fifth time in the last six games, a Cardinals starter failed to get much behind five innings.

"It all starts with our starting pitching, and we've been very clear about that from the beginning," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "We know this starting staff can go on a long run, too, like the rest of the year and the postseason long run. We just need to get on a good roll."

The Reds are on a good roll finally, winning all six of their series since the All-Star break. Brandon Phillips had three hits and left-hander Brandon Finnegan allowed two singles in six innings on Thursday.

The Reds took two of three, giving them only their fifth series win in the last 23 between the NL Central rivals. For the first time since 1999, the Reds have won six straight series after 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.

"They were hitting some balls off the plate," Leake said. "I got behind early in some counts. That's a bad recipe, I guess."

Finnegan (7-8) left after throwing 79 pitches on a humid, 88-degree afternoon. The bullpen gave up three singles while closing out Cincinnati's fourth shutout, which is tied with Milwaukee and Pittsburgh for the fewest in the NL.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto went 0 for 4, ending a 17-game hitting streak that was the longest of his career.

It was the second time that the Reds faced Leake since they traded him in the middle of last season as part of their ongoing rebuilding. On July 7 at Great American Ball Park, Leake allowed only one earned run over 7 1/3 innings of a 7-6 Reds victory that ended with Votto's homer in the bottom of the ninth.

This time, he left the game after failing to retire a batter in the sixth, giving up eight hits and seven runs. After spending his first 5 1/2 seasons in Cincinnati, Leake suspects the Reds have an advantage because they know how he pitches.

"I'm sure it plays a part," Leake said.

Leake extended his streak without walking a batter to 35 innings, the longest in the majors this season. It ended when Adam Duvall walked on a full-count pitch to open the sixth. The club record is held by Bob Tewksbury, who went 44 innings in 1993.

Duvall later scored on Phillips' double, his third hit of the game.

The Reds got a pair of runs in the second inning, all on hits to right field. Phillips singled, Scott Schebler doubled and Cabrera pulled a ball down the line for a two-run single. Phillips doubled again to right field in the fourth and scored on Suarez's sacrifice fly.

Return to the lineup

The Cardinals got Brandon Moss and Jhonny Peralta back from the DL at the start of the series. Moss went 6 for 13 with two doubles and a homer in the series. Peralta was 2 for 10.

Trainer's room

Cardinals: Leadoff hitter Matt Carpenter is expected to come off the DL over the weekend. He's missed 29 games with a strained right oblique. He went 4 for 12 during a rehab assignment with a homer and a double.

Reds: SS Zack Cozart was out of the lineup for the third consecutive game with a bruised finger on his throwing hand. ... Schebler was hit on the right side of the knee in the sixth but stayed in the game. He left after the inning as part of a double switch.

St. Louis returns home and starts a three-game series against Atlanta. Left-hander Jaime Garcia (7-8) is 2-1 in seven career starts against the Braves with a 4.32 ERA.