Reds 8, Cardinals 2: Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips hit home runs and Mike Leake pitched effectively into the seventh as host Cincinnati evened its series with St. Louis and increased its National League Central lead to seven games.

Phillips and Ryan Ludwick each had three hits and Scott Rolen added a two-run single for the Reds, whose 42-23 home record is the best in the majors.

Leake (6-8) consistently worked out of jams, allowed two runs on 10 hits over 6 2/3 innings and holding on long enough for the Reds to give him some run support.

Cardinals starter Jaime Garcia held Cincinnati at bay until the sixth when Todd Frazier's RBI fielder's choice broke a 1-1 tie and Bruce made it 4-1 with a two-run blast to right - his 27th of the season. Phillips added a solo shot to spark a four-run rally with two outs in the seventh and help the Reds break it open.

Garcia (3-5) allowed four runs on seven hits over six innings and remained winless since May 16. He dropped to 7-2 all-time against the Reds.

St. Louis' Allen Craig had his career-best 13-game hitting streak snapped with an 0-for-4 performance. It was the longest active streak in the majors.

Reds rookies Frazier (nine games) and Zack Cozart (11 games) also had their career-best hitting streaks snapped.

GAME NOTEBOOK: The Reds retired Hall of Fame SS Barry Larkin's No. 11 before the game. ... Bruce's homer was the first Garcia has allowed to a left-handed batter this season and the fourth in his career. The other lefties to homer against him are Prince Fielder, Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan Howard. ... Bruce's 32 home runs against left-handed pitchers since the start of the 2010 season are the most by a left-handed batter in the majors during that span. … Leake went 2-for-3 and has 41 hits over the past three seasons, the most among major-league pitchers. ... Reds OF Drew Stubbs struck out four times before snapping an 0-for-12 skid with a single in the eighth. ... The crowd of 41,680 was the Reds' 14th sellout of the season, extending their single-season record since moving into Great American Ball Park.