Reds send Astros to 7th straight loss with 4-1 win

Cincinnati Reds’ Mike Leake delivers a pitch against the Houston Astros in the second inning of a baseball game Friday, June 1, 2012, in Houston.

Pat Sullivan, Associated Press

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Cincinnati Reds center fielder Drew Stubbs makes the catch for an out on Houston Astros’ Chris Johnson in the second inning of a baseball game Friday, June 1, 2012, in Houston.

Pat Sullivan, Associated Press

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Houston Astros pitcher J.A. Happ wipes his face after giving up an RBI single to Cincinnati Reds’ Jay Bruce in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 1, 2012, in Houston.

Pat Sullivan, Associated Press

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Cincinnati Reds’ Joey Votto, right, slides into home to score as Houston Astros catcher Chris Snyder (18) turns for the late tag in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, June 1, 2012, in Houston.

Pat Sullivan, Associated Press

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HOUSTON — Jay Bruce homered and drove in two runs to back a solid performance by Mike Leake and the Cincinnati Reds beat the sliding Houston Astros 4-1 on Friday night.

Leake (2-5) had a season-high seven strikeouts in seven innings, yielding just one run and four hits. Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the ninth for his fourth save.

Houston has dropped seven straight in its longest skid since it lost seven in a row last August.

Joey Votto hit a two-out single in the first and scored on Brandon Phillips' double off the wall in center, putting Cincinnati up 1-0. Bruce then singled in Phillips.

Houston starter J.A. Happ (4-5) allowed three runs and five hits in seven innings.

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