Reds 10, Cardinals 0: Jay Bruce homered and drove in five runs while Homer Bailey threw 7 1/3 superb innings as visiting Cincinnati salvaged the finale of the three-game set.

Brandon Phillips had two hits and scored twice while Joey Votto reached base four times and scored two runs as the Reds moved within 3 1/2 games of first-place St. Louis in the National League Central. The Cardinals’ lead over second-place Pittsburgh slipped to one-half game.

Bailey (9-10) allowed five hits and two walks while striking out seven in winning his fourth consecutive decision. The right-hander also had two hits, including a run-scoring single during a six-run first inning as Cincinnati torched St. Louis ace Adam Wainwright (15-8) for a career-worst nine runs and eight hits in two frames.

The Reds boosted their lead for the NL’s second wild card to six games over Arizona by beating the Cardinals for only the fifth time in 15 meetings this season. Bruce had a two-run single to start the scoring, with the other first-inning runs coming home on Ryan Ludwick’s double, Todd Frazier’s groundout, a wild pitch by Wainwright and Bailey’s first base hit.

Phillips singled and Votto walked before Bruce blasted a three-run shot to right in the second to give Cincinnati a nine-run lead. Chris Heisey added his ninth homer in the ninth.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cardinals C Yadier Molina was given the night off with the team having an off-day Thursday. … Bruce went deep twice in the series after experiencing a 16-game homerless drought. … St. Louis recalled RHP Michael Blazek from Triple-A Memphis and optioned RHP Carlos Martinez to the same club.