Reds Defeat Rockies Behind Phillip’s Bat.

The Reds rebounded from Friday’s disappointed loss and put a total team effort together Saturday night, with outstanding pitching from a former Rockie and great hitting as they defeated the Rockies 8-3 to even the series.

The win pulled the Reds within 2 1/2 games of the Cardinals, who loss again to the Pirates allowed Pittsburgh to take sole possession of first place in the National League Central.

 Reds starter Greg Reynolds had one of the best starts in his 30-game Major League career and it was fitting it was against his former club.

Reynolds silenced the Colorado bats, pitching seven innings of one-run ball against his old club before finally allowing two runs in the eighth.

It was Reynolds’ first big league win since July 2, 2011. He had great command, walking none in eight full innings, allowing seven hits, and striking out five. He struck out the side in the seventh inning and with this great start you might see him maybe in a bullpen role once Tony Cingrani returns from the DL on Thursday.

Reds jumped to an early lead in the first inning,Shin-Soo Choo drew a four-pitch walk and Brandon Phillips matched his career high with his 98th RBI on a triple to make it 1-0. Phillips scored on Joey Votto‘s grounder to short, to make it a two run first.

Phillips extended the Reds’ lead to 3-0 as he connected on his 17th home run of the season to right field. The homer gave Phillips a career-best 99 RBIs.

Reds added three more in the fifth as Choo singled and Phillips sent him to third on a double to left.   Rockies starter Juan Nicasio struck out Votto, then intentionally walked Jay Bruce to bring up Ryan Ludwick.

Before throwing a pitch to Ludwick,  reliever Wlison Lopez balked in Choo. Ludwick then hit a two run single to left to plate Phillips and Bruce, notching his third hit of the night and 6-0 lead.

Colorado finally got to Reynolds for a run in the fifth, with a lead off

Aug 30, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) hits a double to center in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

single then the runner being waved home on a RBI double.

The Reds came back when Phillips batted again in the sixth. Reynolds drove a one-out double to left and went to third on Choo’s second single of the night. Though Phillips missed out in his bids to complete only the sixth cycle in Reds history, with Votto plating Reynolds in the sixth with a RBI single to center and Choo adding three hits himself  as he doubled to left in the eighth to score Zack Cozart and make it 8-1.

The only other damage off Reynolds came with Dickerson’s two-run home run in the eighth. Reynolds wanted the complete game but the Reds are pretty happy with the eight outstanding innings he pitched.

This afternoon series finale pitching match up will be eleven game winner Mike Leake on the mound for the Reds who has struggled a bit in his last couple of starts he will be opposed by Tyler Chatwood of the Rockies. First pitch from Coors Field is at 4:10pm.