Beckett, Dodgers top Reds

Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Josh Beckett allowed just two hits and a walk over six scoreless innings to help the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds in the second matchup of a four-game set.

Beckett (4-3), who dropped his last two starts after a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies on May 25, struck out seven and allowed one runner past first in the win.

He has now given up two earned runs or less in six of his last seven starts.

Hanley Ramirez knocked in two and Adrian Gonzalez had a pair of doubles for the Dodgers, winners in three straight and four of their last five.

Reds starter Mike Leake (3-6) was knocked around for five runs on nine hits with seven punchouts over 5 1/3 innings.

Cincinnati star Joey Votto returned from the disabled list and went 1- for-3. He hadn't played since May 15 due to a quadriceps strain.

"I'm optimistic, hopeful that (my injury) will be cooperative and I'll be able to play and make progress," Votto said.

A pair of doubles from the Dodgers opened the scoring in the second, with Andre Ethier's two-bagger knocking in Gonzalez, who began the frame with a two-base hit to center.

Beckett cruised through the first eight batters he faced before Leake poked a single into center for Cincinnati's first hit of the night. Billy Hamilton followed with a soft dribbler to catcher Drew Butera for the final out of the third.

Justin Turner and Beckett singled around a Butera flyout, and Dee Gordon increased the lead with a double to left that scored Turner. Ramirez shot a single into right in the ensuing at-bat that plated a pair and made it 4-0 LA.

Matt Kemp walked with one out in the sixth and Ethier reached on an infield single that was originally ruled a force out, however, the Dodgers successfully challenged the call on the field and it was overturned. Turner pushed the lead to 5-0 with his RBI single that brought in Kemp.

Sam LeCure then entered for Leake and immediately walked Butera to load the bases. LeCure proceeded to induce a soft flyout from Beckett and got Gordon to strike out, avoiding further trouble.

Yasiel Puig singled, stole second and scored on Gonzalez's double as the Dodgers continued to stretch their margin in the seventh.

Cincinnati, which has lost five of its last seven, broke through in the seventh once Beckett exited the contest. However, it missed a golden opportunity to get back into it.

Paul Maholm relieved Beckett and Jay Bruce greeted Maholm with a double before Devin Mesoraco reached on an infield single. Skip Schumaker lined out to third and Zack Cozart's single to left plated Bruce to get the Reds on the board.

Chris Perez, who came on to replace Maholm, struck out pinch-hitter Chris Heisey and allowed a sharp single to center from Hamilton that loaded the bases with two down.

Todd Frazier worked the count full in the next at-bat, but Perez got him to ground out to shortstop to end the threat.

Brian Wilson and Jamey Wright pitched scoreless eight and ninth innings, respectively, to close out the victory.

Game Notes

The start of the game was delayed two hours and five minutes ... Beckett allowed four runs over 11 innings in his last two starts since the no-no. He hasn't lost three straight starts since Aug. 14-27, 2012 ... Cincinnati optioned Donald Lutz to Triple-A Louisville to make room on the roster for Votto ... LA pounded out 12 hits ... The Reds went 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 on base ... The Dodgers, meanwhile, went 5- for-16 with RISP.