CINCINNATI – Drew Stubbs led off the ninth with a first-pitch homer, sending the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday night and their first set of back-to-back victories in more than five weeks.
The defending NL Central champions hadn’t won consecutive games since June 14-15.
Stubbs went the opposite way on the first offering from Scott Linebrink (3-2), completing the Reds’ all-power night. Brandon Phillips hit a two-run homer, and Miguel Cairo added a solo shot off rookie Brandon Beachy, giving Cincinnati a 3-0 lead.
Francisco Cordero (4-3) fanned pinch-hitter Brooks Conrad with a runner on third base to end the Braves’ ninth.