When Homer Bailey was warming up Sunday at Great American Ballpark, he said he did not feel ready to give a good performance. When it mattered, however, he gave the Reds everything they needed in a game they desperately wanted to win. Bailey allowed only three hits into the eighth inning and Zach Cozart hit his first major league homer, leading Cincinnati to a 3-1 victory over the visiting St. Louis Cardinals that left the Reds feeling revived. Bailey (4-4) got his first win since May 16, before he went on the disabled list for the second time this season with a shoulder problem. “I showed up at the ballpark not feeling great, but we won so everything's great,” said Bailey, who threw 88 pitches on an 86-degree afternoon. “Warming up before the game, I felt like I had nothing. I was all over the place. I was thinking I might not get past the second inning.” Cincinnati, the defending National League Central champion, has not won back-to-back games in a month and is in fourth place. By taking two of three from the Cardinals, the Reds got a little momentum and stayed in the pack of four teams atop the division. “That's the first time we've won a series in a long time,” Manager Dusty Baker said. “That's huge.” The much-needed win came against Jaime Garcia (9-4). A disputed call and a pair of wild pitches helped Cincinnati beat the left-hander for the first time. Cardinals shortstop Ryan Theriot was ejected while arguing a call in the sixth that set up the tying run. Garcia then threw a pair of wild pitches that let Cincinnati pull even. Ryan Hanigan singled home the tie-breaking run an inning later. Braves 9, Nationals 8: Freddie Freeman's ninth-inning single to right field drove in Martin Prado from second base, lifting Atlanta over visiting Washington. Marlins 7, Cubs 5: Greg Dobbs hit a two-run homer and drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning, giving Florida the win at Chicago. Giants 4, Padres 3: Chris Stewart drove in the go-ahead run with a suicide squeeze in the 11th inning, then initiated an impressive double play later that helped San Francisco win at San Diego. Pirates 7, Astros 5: Josh Harrison scored on a passed ball for the first of three runs in the 11th to lead Pittsburgh at Houston. Diamondbacks 4, Dodgers 1: Daniel Hudson threw a five-hitter, hit his first big-league home run and finished with three RBI, leading Arizona past visiting Los Angeles. Brewers 4, Rockies 3: Shaun Marcum tossed five solid innings before leaving with a strained neck and Milwaukee held on to win at Colorado. In other games it was: Rangers 3, Mariners 1; Orioles 8, Indians 3; Twins 4, Royals 3; Tigers 4, White Sox 3; Athletics 9, Angels 1.
