Reds 8, Rockies 3: Brandon Phillips drove in a pair of runs while falling a single shy of the cycle as visiting Cincinnati evened the series at one win apiece.

Ryan Ludwick also had three hits and two RBIs, Joey Votto plated a pair of runs and Greg Reynolds tossed eight impressive innings for the Reds, who remained 3 1/2 games behind first-place Pittsburgh in the National League Central. Cincinnati leads Arizona by six games in the race for the second wild-card spot.

Phillips delivered an RBI triple and scored on Votto's groundout in the first inning as the Reds grabbed an early 2-0 lead. The All-Star second baseman belted a solo homer in the third before doubling and scoring during Cincinnati's three-run fifth but failed to complete the cycle in his final two at-bats.

Reynolds (1-2) allowed three runs and seven hits while striking out five in his first start against his former team. Shin-Soo Choo went 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored for the Reds, who won for just the third time in five contests.

Juan Nicasio (8-7) was tagged for six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 frames. Corey Dickerson belted a two-run homer and pinch hitter Jordan Pacheco had an RBI double for the Rockies, who had won five of seven.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Phillips was looking to become the first member of the Reds to hit for the cycle since Eric Davis in 1989. He is one RBI away from being the first Reds second baseman to reach the century mark since Joe Morgan collected 111 in 1976. ... Colorado 1B Todd Helton remained one hit shy of 2,500 for his career as he went 0-for-4. ... Reds RHP Sam LeCure struck out the side in the ninth inning. One of his victims was Helton, who fanned for the third time.