Joey Votto and Jay Bruce Hit Home Runs in Reds 4-3 Win Francisco Cordero Saves His 300th Game

Joey Votto's third hit of the game nearly sunk the showboat atop the center field batter's eye with Brandon Phillips aboard to sink the Milwaukee Brewers.

Phillips was hit by a Kameron Loe pitch before Votto launched his seventh home run of the season giving the Reds a good start in June, as Francisco Cordero posted the 300th save of his career.

Dusty Baker, who believed in Cordero when he was struggling last year, had an extra pat on the back for his closer.

"That 300th was for his mama," Baker said.  Cordero lost his mother over the winter last year. "I know how he feels.  I was glad for him."

"That was the best win we've had for a long time," Baker said. "Maybe the Giants will come back to beat the Cardinals.  Maybe the Giants win tomorrow and we pick up a game and a half in two days.  That would be primo."

Mike Leake started rough.  Rickie Weeks dinged him for a game-opening home run and Nyjer Morgan followed with a triple.  Morgan scored on the first out of the game to give Milwaukee an early 2-0 lead.

In the capable hands of Shaun Marcum, it was a commanding two-run lead to which the Brewers added a third run from a leadoff double by Cory Hart and a two-out run scoring single by Yuniesky Betancourt.

Leake left after six innings, managing a quality start on seven hits and four walks, not one of his most quality of quality starts.

Marcum handled the Reds. Joey Votto had a two-out single in the first inning and Edgar Renteria bunted for a single to lead off the fifth.  That was all folks, until......

"Marcum had us eating out of his hand with that change up," Baker said.

"He didn't make many mistakes," Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke said of Marcum.  "Votto and Bruce are great hitters.  You make a mistake to either one of them right now and they won't miss them.  Marcum made a couple others that didn't get hit but he pulled a change up to Bruce."

Votto opened the seventh with a single.  The NL Player of the Week/Month followed with a 412' home run into the Milwaukee bullpen, extending his home run lead to 17 and his RBI lead to 46.

Marcum got two ground ball outs but super sub Miguel Cairo, who hit .409 in May, doubled into the left field corner.  Ryan Hanigan missed fair territory with two scalding line drives before bouncing out to thirdbase.

Jose Arredondo pitched an 1 1/3 innings with only a walk to mar his effort.  Arredondo has worked 5 2/3 innings in his last six outings and allowed just one run.

Bill Bray got an out before turning it over to Nick Masset, the winning pitcher.

Cordero pitched a perfect ninth, striking Craig Counsel out looking.

"I thought make a good pitch here and get it over with," Cordero said. "It's a big moment.  I don't know what to say.  I'm really happy.  Now I can get more focused, get as many saves as I can and help my team to the playoffs."