Cincinnati, OH (My Sportsbook) - Bronson Arroyo pitched six solid innings as the Cincinnati Reds downed the St. Louis Cardinals, 5-1, in the second of a three-game set at Great American Ball Park.

Arroyo (9-14) gave up just one run on six hits with five strikeouts to improve to 4-1 in his last six starts.

Edwin Encarnacion went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBI while Brandon Phillips hit a solo homer for the Reds, who have won four of their last six games.

Ryan Ludwick drove in the lone run while Anthony Reyes (2-14) was saddled with the loss as he gave up three runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings of work for the Cardinals, who have dropped six straight and sit four games behind Milwaukee for first place in the NL Central.

The Reds took a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning. Phillips got the team on the scoreboard with a one-out solo homer over the left field wall. After Adam Dunn worked a walk, Encarnacion roped a pitch past the left field fence for his 13th

St. Louis got on the board in the sixth as Ludwick's RBI single to right scored Rick Ankiel to make it a 3-1 game.

Cincinnati, though, increased its lead in the bottom of the sixth. Encarnacion punched a single to left to score Phillips and, after Joey Votto lined out, Javier Valentin hit a single to left that plated Dunn for a 5-1 lead.

Arroyo left after the sixth inning. Mike Stanton and Gary Majewski combined for a scoreless seventh, Jared Burton gave up just an infield single in the eighth while David Weathers worked a perfect ninth to finish the contest.

Game Notes

Cincinnati shortstop Alex Gonzalez left the game in the fourth inning with a sore left knee...Reyes has dropped three straight decisions...The Reds are 35-28 since the All-Star break, which is the best in the NL Central...Encarnacio start the sixth broke an 0-for-19 slump...St. Louis has won nine of 14 games against Cincinnati this season.