Reds 3, Pirates 0
PITTSBURGH -- Mike Leake continued his domination of the Pirates with eight scoreless innings, and Brandon Phillips collected three hits, including the tiebreaking single, as the Cincinnati Reds beat Pittsburgh 3-0 Thursday night.
Leake (2-1) scattered six hits in winning his sixth straight decision against the Pirates. He has not lost to the National League Central rival since 2012. The right-hander struck out two and walked none in running his unbeaten streak against Pittsburgh to 15 games.
Leake also hit an RBI double, giving him 71 hits in his six-year career, the most by any major league pitcher since 2010.
Closer Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth to finish the seven-hit shutout and earn his sixth save.
Phillips, the veteran second baseman, hit three singles. The first one hugged the third base line in the fourth inning and scored third baseman Todd Frazier, who led off with a triple. Phillips scored on Leake's double.
Right fielder Marlon Byrd hit his second home run in as many nights and fifth of the season to lead off the fifth inning against Gerrit Cole (4-1), who lost in his first start in May after being selected as the NL Pitcher of the Month for April.
Byrd had two of the Reds' 10 hits as Cincinnati (14-13) won for the sixth time in nine games and moved above .500 for the first time since April 22 when it was 8-7. The Reds are 5-0 against the Pirates this season.
Cole allowed three runs and eight hits in five innings, striking out four and walking two. He lost at PNC Park for just the second time in 10 decisions and 15 starts since last June 28.
The Pirates (12-15) lost their fifth straight game and fell for the seventh time in eight games. They scored just seven runs in the seven losses while going 3-for-37 (.081) with runners in scoring position.
Rookie shortstop Jung Ho Kang had two hits for the Pirates.
Reds first baseman Joey Votto was ejected and is likely facing a suspension from Major League Baseball for bumping plate umpire Chris Conroy in the third inning.
After Votto struck out swinging to end the inning, he slammed his bat and helmet to the ground. Votto then said something to Conroy as he walked to his position and was ejected.
Votto charged toward Conroy and bumped into him before he could be intercepted by Reds manager Bryan Price.
NOTES: The Pirates placed OF Andrew Lambo on the 15-day disabled list with plantar fasciitis in his left foot and selected the contract of INF/OF Steve Lombardozzi from Triple-A Indianapolis. Lambo went 1-for-25 (.040) in 20 games. Lombardozzi was hitting .379 with 13 RBIs in 24 games at Indianapolis after spending all or parts of the last four seasons in the majors with Washington (2011-13) and Baltimore (2014). ... Cincinnati SS Zack Cozart missed his second straight game. Though his bruised right index finger has healed, he is still feeling pain in his right wrist from being hit by a pitch on Sunday in a loss at Atlanta. ... The three-game series concludes Thursday night, with Cincinnati RHP Anthony DeSclafani (2-0, 2.03 ERA) facing Pittsburgh RHP A.J. Burnett (0-1 1.45).