Jay Bruce Bat and Drew Stubbs Glove Produce Reds' Win

A clutch two-run home run by Jay Bruce and a run saving "catch" by Drew Stubbs were enough to back Mat Latos for a 2-1 Reds' win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Bruce homered for the third straight game, a lazer-like, line drive to right field scored Ryan Ludwick, whose two-out single set the stage.

"I wasn't looking for any particular pitch.  He threw a change and it was up just enough," Bruce said.  "In my opinion we've done a good job hanging in games all year and coming back.  You can't give us a lot of breathing room."

Since Bruce was rested for two days in Chicago, he is hitting .345 in his last 22 games. He has homered four times during his five-game hitting streak, including the last three games in a row.  It is the third time this year he has homered in three games or more.  He hit in three straight from August 12-15 and four straight from April 26-29.

"I don't know if its the reason he's hot but let's just keep him hot," Dusty Baker said.  "Whatever works."

Bruce needed the mental break more than the physical.

"I got in trouble thinking too much," Bruce said.  "I was trying to figure out things that didn't need to be figured out."

Mat Latos lost the plate in the fourth inning after a one-out double by Chase Utley.  Latos hit Ryan Howard with a pitch, then walked John Mayberry Jr. and Domonic Brown to force in a run.

Nate Schierholtz hit a low line drive to center.  Drew Stubbs closed on it quickly and appeared to nab it on the short hop.  He threw to second where Brandon Phillips stepped on the bag, then threw home.  Howard and Mayberry were caught in between and a confused Ryan Hanigan didn't know who to throw out.

"I thought I trapped it," Stubbs said.  "I just wanted to get the ball toward home plate as quickly as I could.  I got it to Brandon (Phillips).  Whether it was a catch or not we would have kept them from scoring.  The runners had to freeze.  As a base runner on third on a play like that you don't want to go back all the way and tag until after the play.  The runners on second and first have to watch the guy in front of them."

However secondbase umpire, D.J. Rayburn ruled it a catch and Mayberry out at second.

"It could have gone either way," Stubbs said.  "It was a tough call for an umpire.  I didn't hear the umpire until after the fact."

Mat Latos (12-4) and 7-2 in his last 14 starts, appreciated it.

"Stubby made and unbelievable play.  That saved the game," Latos said.

Kyle Kendrick allowed just four hits and a walk until Bruce unloaded.

Latos pitched seven innings, allowing just the one run.  Jonathan Broxton pitched a clean eighth.  Aroldis Chapman struck out two and walked one in a scoreless ninth for his 35th save.

Chapman extended his team record with his 27th straight successful save.

The Reds' magic number drops to 18 as the Cardinals won to remain 8-1/2 games back with 25 games to play.