Leake Pitches and Hits Reds to 22nd Win

Mike Leake controlled a good-hitting Atlanta Braves team and clubbed his first major league home run in a 4-1 win that put the Reds three games over .500 for the first time this season.

Leake allowed just two hits and a run. Juan Francisco, traded to Atlanta this spring, poked a pitch into the Brave bullpen after Drew Stubbs homered for the Reds in the first.

"It pissed me off that it was him of all people," Leake said.

It was the second quality start in a row for Leake, who was credited with his first win of the season.  Leake has been solid in three of his last four starts. He took himself out after the eighth inning.  "My back was tightening up a little bit."

"I was going after hitters and not worrying about who is in the box," Leake said.  During his personnel five-game losing streak, he believed that he was trying to be too fine.

"I'm heading down the right track now," Leake said.

"Leake was aggressive and had command," Dusty Baker said.  "He was studying tirelessly with (pitching coach) Bryna Price to find out what was wrong.  I'm glad for him.  He finally got on the board."

Mike Minor had the gopher ball stuck in his glove all night and it emerged with a vengeance in the Reds' fourth inning.  The Atlanta starter gave up Leake's first major league home run.  Zack Cozart followed with his fourth of the season and Stubbs stopped the show with his second of the game and fifth of the season.

"It's pretty special to be part of three in a row," Stubbs said.  "It really felt good.  It is the best I've felt in a month."

Three home runs in a span of nine pitches.  Leake and Cozart's landed so close together that Caleb Lloyd a 2010 graduate of Northwest High School caught both of them.

Was it contagious or luck?

"A little bit of both," Stubbs said.

"You don't expect to be part of back-to-back as a leadoff hitter unless you hit the first one," Cozart said.

"It was nice to hit one but it was going to happen sooner or later," said Leake, who hit two home runs at Arizona State in his sophomore year.

Minor ended with a weird line, 6 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 4 earned runs, four walks, four strikeouts and 4 home runs.

Dusty Baker sent Mike Costanzo to hit for Leake in the eighth and brought on Jose Arredondo to attempt his second save.

Martin Prado was robbed by Stubbs with a sliding catch in centerfield.  Arredondo struck out pinch hitter Eric Hinske.  Then Arredondo needed to be saved.  He walked Dan Uggla and Brian McCann.

Baker yanked him to bring former closer Sean Marshall to get lefty Jason Heyward.  This time Marshall picked his teammate up after he was twice picked up in save situations.  Heyward skyed out to Jay Bruce in right for his eighth save.

A thank you to Mary Lou Schirmer, who caught some of my mistakes and was kind enough to tell me. If anyone is looking for a professional proof reader, call me at 513-240-3120 and I will put you in touch with her.