Reds 4, Padres 2: Jay Bruce and Ryan Ludwick hit back-to-back homers in the fourth inning as visiting Cincinnati won its third straight against San Diego.

Johnny Cueto (10-5) gave up two runs over 5 2/3 innings for Cincinnati, which remained one game behind Pittsburgh in the NL Central. Aroldis Chapman worked a perfect ninth inning for his 11th save.

San Diego fell behind in the fourth when Bruce hit a two-run blast to center off Jason Marquis (1-5) just before Ludwick belted his 12th home run.

The Padres answered in the fifth with Cameron Maybin scored on Chris Denorfia’s groundout, and they knocked Cueto out of the game in the sixth on Mark Kotsay’s bases-loaded walk.

Cueto was replaced by Sam LeCure, who retired Denorfia on a fly ball to right field to end the inning. Cueto’s early exit snapped a string of seven straight quality starts.

The Reds added an insurance run in the seventh when Zack Cozart hit a leadoff double, moved to third on Drew Stubbs’ sacrifice and scored on Brandon Phillips’ single.

Cozart’s 21st double broke Nomar Garciaparra’s 1997 record for the most ever by a rookie shortstop prior to the All-Star Game.

San Diego, which managed just one extra-base hit, lost the final three games of the series after winning a season-high six straight.

Phillips had three hits for the Reds, who won despite leaving 12 runners on base and going 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Pitching on three days rest, Marquis allowed three runs over five innings. …Cueto’s outing ended a streak of 10 straight quality starts by the Reds’ starting pitchers. …San Diego 3B Chase Headley went 0-for-4, ending his hitting streak at 12 games. …Reds 3B Scott Rolen (back) started for the first time since June 29 and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts. …Cincinnati improved to 36-4 when leading after seven innings.