Halladay solid as Phillies down Reds

Cincinnati, OH – Roy Halladay spun 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball Wednesday, as the Philadelphia Phillies downed the Cincinnati Reds, 6-2, in the finale of a three-game set at Great American Ball Park.

Halladay (9-7) scattered eight hits and walked one with five strikeouts to earn his third consecutive winning decision.

Erik Kratz clubbed a three-run home run and Chase Utley added a two-run blast, as the Phillies wrapped up a six-game road trip at 4-2.

"I feel like the young guys that have come in and play every day have been very good for us and kind of given us a little bit of life," Halladay said. "I feel like our pitching the last month has been a lot better."

Mike Leake (7-9) was tagged for six runs on six hits and one walk over just 2 1/3 innings to absorb the loss.

Jay Bruce finished with three hits, including a solo home run and two RBI for the Reds, who have dropped eight straight season series against Philadelphia.

Joey Votto stroked a pair of base hits as he returned to the Reds lineup for the first time since July 15 while recovering from a pair of surgeries on his left knee.

"I think it went better than I expected," Votto said of his return. "I was very happy to be back in the lineup and playing again. Unfortunately, it came with a loss."

The Phillies struck first as Ryan Howard and John Mayberry stroked back-to- back singles to start the second before Domonic Brown slapped a single into left-center field to score Howard for a 1-0 lead.

Kratz then launched a 2-2 slider into the first row in left field to provide the Phillies with a four-run lead.

The Phils tacked on two more in the third, as Juan Pierre worked a leadoff walk before Utley jumped on a first-pitch sinker and crushed it to straightaway center field, extending the margin to 6-0.

Cincinnati got on the board in the fourth as Bruce clubbed a two-out double into right field to score Chris Heisey, who singled to start the frame.

Halladay stifled the Reds from there, despite allowing a baserunner in each of the next four innings, including a one-out single to Heisey in the eighth.

Antonio Bastardo entered and fanned Votto before flying out Ryan Ludwick to end the eighth.

Jonathan Papelbon served up a leadoff blast to Bruce in the ninth to account for the final margin.

Game Notes

The Phillies won four of the seven matchups against the Reds this season. Cincinnati last won a season series against Philadelphia in 2003 (5-4) ... Leake fell to 0-3 in five career starts against Philadelphia ... Reds shortstop Didi Gregorius made his major league debut. He finished 0-for-4.