Leake pitches, hits Reds past struggling Braves

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake works in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Thursday, April 30, 2015, in Atlanta.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake works in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves Thursday, April 30, 2015, in Atlanta.

ATLANTA - Mike Leake pitched eight strong innings and hit his fifth career home run to help the CincinnatiReds beat the Atlanta Braves 5-1 on Thursday night.

Todd Frazier, Tucker Barnhart and Billly Hamilton also had solo homers as the Reds won their third straight. Joey Votto had two hits and drove in a run.

Leake (1-1) allowed four baserunners on two hits and two walks, and retired the last 12 batters he faced. He struck out three.

Cincinnati, which ranks second in the NL with 31 homers, went up 4-0 in the eighth on Frazier's seventh homer and 5-0 in the ninth on Hamilton's second.

The Braves have dropped three in a row and eight of 10.

Atlanta starter Shelby Miller (3-1) gave up six hits and three runs - two earned - with three walks and nine strikeouts in seven innings.

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