Reds Knock Off Brewers In Game 1 Of 3 Game Series.

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Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer, Bronson Arroyo pitched effectively into the seventh and the Cincinnati Reds used a six-run third inning to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-5 on Monday night.

Already ahead 1-0, the Reds sent 11 batters to the plate in the third, holding Chris Narveson (1-1) to his shortest outing in 38 career starts.

Cincinnati had eight hits in the inning one night after managing just four in a shutout loss to St. Louis.

Bruce homered and Brandon Phillips, Jonny Gomes, Ryan Hanigan and even Arroyo (3-2) drove in a run each to give Cincinnati a 7-0 lead.

Phillips added a two-run single in the ninth as Arroyo got all the support he needed to snap his two-game losing skid.

Milwaukee's Ryan Braun continued his torrid stretch with a two-run homer in the ninth.

Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker shook up the lineup, putting Phillips in the fourth spot for the first time this season and moving Bruce up to second. Everything worked for the Reds, who had been hitting .229 in a 3-8 stretch coming into the series against the Brewers.

Reds Even Out Series With Cardinals.

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The Cincinnati Reds were looking to even the series with the Cardinals. They did, winning 5-3. Here's what happened.....

Cincinnati's Miguel Cairo has played for nine clubs in his 15-year career so the veteran knows what to look for when he's down in the count.

Cairo hit a two-out, two-run, go-ahead single in the eighth inning to lift the Reds to a 5-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

Former Cardinals closer Ryan Franklin gave up a single to left field by Cairo, who fell behind 0-2 in the count.

"I was just trying to stay back and see what was coming," said Cairo, who turns 37 on May 5. "He left it out over the plate and I was just lucky enough to get a hit."

Cincinnati gave Cairo a two-year deal but Reds manager Dusty Baker acknowledged some doubts about the veteran during spring training.

"He looked old in spring training. I mean, there's a difference between being old and looking old," Baker said. "We made a decision really thanks to Scott Rolen. He suggested he'd be a big help to us. When you're on the fence, it helps to have somebody who knows somebody. You trust their word."

The slumping Reds had lost seven of nine before snapping St. Louis' three-game winning streak.

<a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/video?vid=94642f0d-2a1b-45b8-910e-cb46295c1fbb" target="_new" title="">MLB on FOX: Reds rally past Cards</a>

Reds Blast The Astros Into Orbit

he last time the Reds got off to such a good start, they ended up winning the World Series.

Chris Heisey drove in three runs, and the Reds used a patient approach at the plate to beat the Houston Astros 8-2 on Tuesday night for their best start in 21 years.

At 4-0, they're the only unbeaten team left in the National League. They hadn't won their first four since 1990, when they opened 8-0 and went on to sweep Oakland for their last World Series championship.

"You get off to a good start and try to keep the momentum going and keep winning," Heisey said. "I'll say we're probably going to lose a game before long, but if we go 162-0, we'll be making some serious headlines."

The defending NL Central champs showed a lot of confidence in their first four, playing up to a title that's had a carry-over effect.

"Remember I said that whatever we sold last year was going to be an easier sell this year because of the results," manager Dusty Baker said.

By contrast, the Astros fell to 0-4, the second year in a row they've foundered. They dropped the first eight games last season, burying themselves in the Central with a 17-34 start in April and May. Houston finished the season strong and wanted to avoid another discouraging beginning this time around.