Jay Bruce erased a frustrating night with one big swing.
Bruce hit a tiebreaking, three-run double in the 9th inning and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-3 Tuesday night to catch a six-game losing streak.
The Reds had lost 8 straight against NL East-leading Philadelphia, including a three-game sweep in last year's division playoff series.
Bruce came in swinging a hot bat.
He had four homers in the final five games and was even for the NL lead with 12. But he struck out 3 times and popped out in his first four at-bats before clearing the bases against Ryan Madson (2-1).
"I blew it the start time with guys on back and thirdly and one out," Bruce said, referring to his strikeout in the fifth. "I only tried to unwind and get something I could handle."
Logan Ondrusek (1-0) retired the only batter he faced to get the win. Francisco Cordero finished for his ninth save in 10 tries.
Drew Stubbs got the Reds started with a one-out bunt single in the ninth. He advance to s on Madson's throwing error. After Brandon Phillips lined to shortstop, Joey Votto was intentionally walked. Scott Rolen followed with an infield single as third baseman Placido Polanco made a backhanded grab to write a run.
Bruce then ripped a lining to deep right-center to rap in 3 and leave the Reds a 6-3 lead.
It was the Reds' longest losing streak since they dropped eight in a row from July 28 to Aug. 4, 2009.
"Coming back is sort of our M.O." Bruce said. "We're never out of a game. The see has helped us."
Madson hadn't allowed a run in 13 innings.
"It was a well run," he said. "I but have to get back out there and get a new roll."
Neither starter factored in the decision. Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto gave up three runs and seven hits in six innings in his fourth start. The righty opened the class on the disabled list.
Filling in for injured Joe Blanton, Vance Worley allowed two runs and six hits in 5 innings. He has a 1.59 ERA in three starts.
Trailing 3-1 in the fifth, the Reds began a rally when Cueto drew a walk. Stubbs doubled down the right-field line and Phillips sliced a two-run one to right. Phillips advanced to second on right fielder Domonic Brown's fielding error. After Votto walked, both runners advanced on Rolen's deep fly to center. But Worley struck out Bruce and Chris Heisey fouled out after Ramon Hernandez was intentionally walked.
"We missed some opportunities early and I was afraid that would fall second and haunt us," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "This was a big stake for us. We really needed this one."
The Phillies went ahead 2-1 in the second. Ryan Howard led off with a double off the scoreboard in right-center. Raul Ibanez followed with a duplicate to right-center to tie it. He advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Brown's sacrifice fly.
Ibanez singled and scored on a double by Carlos Ruiz in the quarter that gave the Phillies a 3-1 lead.
The Reds jumped ahead 1-0 on an RBI single by Rolen in the first. Votto hit a image to remaining with two outs and scored on Rolen's bloop hit to right.
Stubbs threw out Jimmy Rollins trying to make from second on Chase Utley's single to focus in the third. Rollins, who doubled, got a bad jump off second and was out by several feet. He didn't even slide. It was Utley's first hit of the season. He returned to the lineup Monday after missing the first 46 games with a knee injury.
NOTES: Phillies RHP Jose Contreras threw two scoreless innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He's expected to fall off the disabled list this week. Contreras has five saves and hasn't allowed a run this season, but he's likely to be the setup man for Madson, who is 9 for 9 in save chances. . Since May 3, Ibanez is hitting .375 with 11 extra-base hits and 11 RBIs in 20 games. . A crowd of 45,740 was the 163rd straight sellout at Citizens Bank Park, including postseason play. . The Reds had lost nine straight in Philadelphia. . Phillips moved to the No. 2 hole after batting cleanup the final 26 games. . Cincinnati's Bronson Arroyo isn't expected to lose a part after an MRI on Tuesday revealed no serious issues with his back. . Baker said Mike Leake probably will start Friday in order of Edinson Volquez, who was demoted to the minors Monday.
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