Reds 5, Pirates 3
Brandon Phillips hit a three-run double to cap a four-run fifth inning while Mike Leake defeated Francisco Liriano and visiting Pittsburgh for the third time this season.
Chris Heisey homered in the first inning and drove in two runs as the Reds raced to a 5-0 lead before Leake allowed solo blasts to Starling Marte, Andrew McCutchen and Russell Martin in the sixth. Aroldis Chapman worked around a two-out single in the ninth for his 22nd save in 25 chances.
Leake (9-4), who was lifted after yielding Martin's two-out homer, allowed six hits, two walks and struck out five. Liriano (9-4) had a string of five straight quality starts snapped when he was charged with five runs and as many hits while walking and striking out four in 4 1/3 innings - his shortest outing of the season.
Heisey drove in the first run in the fifth inning with an infield hit. After Liriano walked Joey Votto to load the bases, Phillips greeted reliever Justin Wilson with a line drive into the left-center gap to improve to 9-for-11 with 21 RBIs while batting with the bases loaded this season.
After the home run barrage, Garrett Jones and Jordy Mercer singled against reliever Logan Ondrusek before Clint Barmes grounded into a fielder's choice. The Pirates also threatened by putting runners at second and third with two outs in the seventh inning, but Manny Parra came on to strike out Pedro Alvarez.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Pirates lead the major leagues with a 3.09 ERA. The last time Pittsburgh had the lowest ERA at the All-Star break was a 3.45 mark in 1962, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. ... Reds CF Shin-Soo Choo extended his hitting streak to 13 games - matching a career high - and raised his average 23 points to .287 during that span. ... Heisey's home run was his third in a span of 19 at-bats.