Reds 5, Astros 3: Jay Bruce knotted the game with a three-run homer while Chris Heisey and Miguel Cairo delivered back-to-back RBI doubles later in the five-run eighth inning as visiting Cincinnati completed a 5-1 road trip.

Seeking their second winning streak since late June, the Astros entered the eighth with a 3-0 lead, but their beleaguered bullpen let it slip away. Drew Stubbs drew a one-out walk from Hector Ambriz and went to third on Brandon Phillips' single before Bruce deposited the first pitch from Xavier Cedeno (0-1) over the wall in right for his 29th blast.

Todd Frazier followed with a single and scored when Heisey greeted Wilton Lopez with a double. Cairo completed the rally with his own RBI double and the Reds held on to increase their lead over St. Louis in the National League Central to 9 1/2 games.

Jose Arredondo (6-2) picked up the win despite allowing two runs in the seventh inning. Jonathan Broxton struck out two in a perfect eighth and Aroldis Chapman did the same during a 1-2-3 ninth for his 34th save. Chapman has successfully converted each of his last 26 save chances.

Houston appeared on its way to winning two straight for just the second time since June 26-27. After Brian Bogusevic snapped a scoreless tie in the fifth with an RBI groundout, Jason Castro drew a leadoff walk from Arredondo in the seventh and scored on Fernando Martinez's triple.

Martinez was picked off third before Tyler Greene belted his ninth homer, giving the Astros a 3-0 advantage.

Houston starter Bud Norris escaped a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the sixth, striking out Bruce before inducing Frazier to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Greene recorded two of the five hits by the Astros, who have lost 16 of 19.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto will return to the team Monday if he deems himself ready for action following left knee surgery and a four-game rehab assignment. The Reds, who will be beginning a nine-game homestand, are 32-15 without the former MVP. ... Sunday was Milo Hamilton Day as the Astros honored the Hall-of-Fame broadcaster for his 85th birthday. The first 10,000 fans at Minute Maid Park received bobbleheads featuring the likeness of Hamilton, who is in his 59th and final season as a major-league broadcaster. ... Cincinnati recalled C Devin Mesoraco from Triple-A Louisville, where he went 3-for-18 after being sent down on Aug. 23.